Worshippers’ abduction: Atiku expresses concern audacity of bandits

The former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has lamented the growing audacity showcased by bandits who attack public places at will.

Reacting to the recent attack by suspected bandits on two churches in the Kurmin Wali community of Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, the two-time presidential candidate said it is worrisome that the criminals keep up with their acts while some states are claiming victory in their peace deals with them.

He added that the continued attack by these bandits is embarrassing as they continue to take hostages unchallenged.

In addition, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leader observed that it is difficult to achieve deterrence in a situation where governors are on their knees begging bandits in the name of peace deals.

He further explained that while he is not against negotiations to end the violence, he will not accept a situation where these bandits continue to dictate the peace deals on their own terms.

“Those peace deals always favour the bandits more than their victims and they have always fooled the government’s negotiators,” he said.

Subsequently, the former Vice President urged the Nigerian government not to wait until the bandits launch attacks before it responds to those attacks.

“Nigerians are no longer impressed by the powerful language of condemnation by the government. They’re more interested in results than rhetoric. Experience has shown that if rhetoric were enough to deter the bandits, the menace would have ended a long time ago.

“Nigerians cannot be comforted by excuses. As a former opposition party, the APC held the then government in power to the harshest and merciless standards and therefore, the Tinubu administration must be held to the same standards,” Atiku added.