Atiku Urges Emergency Measures to Curb School Attacks

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has called on the Nigerian Government to take urgent steps to address rising insecurity, warning that persistent attacks on schools by bandits and terrorists pose a serious threat to education and national development.

Atiku’s appeal followed the recent attack on Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu, in Kogi State’s Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, where gunmen reportedly killed three people. 

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Atiku described the attack as a major setback for the education sector and called for stronger security measures to tackle the growing threat posed by armed groups.

PRESS RELEASE

Atiku calls for declaration of emergency on security
*Says attacks on schools may cripple education, stall development

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has decried the… pic.twitter.com/l9NzMFydE7

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He argued that the worsening security situation requires extraordinary intervention, including the declaration of a security-focused state of emergency that would give security commanders greater operational flexibility in confronting criminal elements.

“The latest attack on a school in Kogi State is a direct threat to education and a colossal national embarrassment that demands urgent and drastic action,” Atiku said in a statement issued on Wednesday by his media office in Abuja.

“It is high time the Federal Government declared a state of emergency to empower commanders with more freedom to act decisively and proactively with these monsters in the country,” he said.

According to him, such a measure would not involve the removal of elected officials but would instead allow security agencies to make critical battlefield decisions without undue political interference.

“I am not in any way calling for the removal of elected officials, but rather advocating for commanders to have freer hand to protect their battlefield decisions from political interference,” he added.

Atiku expressed concern over what he described as a disturbing pattern of attacks on schools, citing recent incidents in Oyo and Borno states where dozens of students were abducted.

He warned that continued assaults on educational institutions could create fear among students, teachers and parents, disrupt learning, and discourage school attendance across the country.

“Learning can only take place in a safe environment, and terrorist attacks on schools are increasingly making our schools dangerous places. Worse still, the anxiety and trauma that follow terrorist attacks on schools will inevitably make the school environment unsafe for both students and teachers.

“Under no circumstances should we allow terrorists or bandits to destroy our way of life and stop our children from going to school”, Atiku stated.

The ADC presidential candidate further noted that attacks on one school have wider implications for the education system because they generate anxiety and insecurity beyond the affected communities.

As part of efforts to strengthen security, Atiku proposed the creation of a National Guard made up of retired military personnel to support the armed forces and the police, arguing that existing security agencies are overstretched.

He also advocated improved intelligence gathering and greater community participation in security efforts, stressing the importance of information sharing and local vigilance in combating terrorism and banditry.