Says Nigerians need protection, not promises, after attack claims at least 30 lives.
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has condemned the killing of at least 30 residents in the Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, describing the attack as tragic and unacceptable.
Gunmen reportedly stormed the community around 1 a.m. on Monday and opened fire on residents.
Amnesty International said the attackers chased villagers who fled into nearby bushes, killing many of them.
The organisation added that several people remain missing, while more bodies are still being recovered from homes and surrounding farmlands.
The rights group described the incident as one of the deadliest attacks in Southern Kaduna communities and accused authorities of failing to protect residents and bring perpetrators to justice.
Atiku Faults Government’s Security Response
In a statement issued on Monday by his senior special assistant on public communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the latest killings reflected the Federal Government’s failure to fulfil its constitutional duty of protecting lives and property.
“The reported killing of scores of innocent Nigerians in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State is heartbreaking and unacceptable.
“Every life lost is a painful indictment of a government that has repeatedly promised security but continues to preside over an expanding landscape of bloodshed.
“No nation can claim progress when its citizens are hunted down in their homes and communities by criminals who operate with such frightening impunity,” the statement read.
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He said Nigerians deserve effective security rather than official claims of international recognition.
“The people of Southern Kaduna and indeed all Nigerians do not need letters of praise from foreign capitals. They need security. They need to sleep without fear, travel without anxiety, cultivate their farms in peace and raise their children without the constant threat of terrorists, bandits and other violent criminals,” he said.
Calls for Security Reforms
Atiku urged the federal government to undertake a comprehensive review of the country’s security architecture.
He called for intelligence-driven operations, the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the attack, and stronger preventive measures to protect vulnerable communities from future assaults.
The former vice president also sympathised with families of those killed and wished those injured a speedy recovery.
He further urged security agencies to ensure those behind the killings are brought to justice while improving security in vulnerable communities, particularly as the country moves closer to another election cycle.
“History will not remember how many letters of commendation a government claimed to have received. It will remember whether it protected its people when they needed protection the most. Today, the blood of innocent Nigerians speaks far louder than any unverified claim of international praise,” he added.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.