Atiku asks Tinubu to declare state of emergency over rising insecurity

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently declare a state of emergency on the security situation in Nigeria.

Atiku made the demand on Friday in a statement posted on his social media page.

While condemning the abduction of students and staff at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, he said, “How many more lives must be shattered before decisive action is taken?”

He further urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on insecurity and confront the menace with the urgency it deserves.

“It is not too late for the government to finally declare a state of emergency on insecurity and confront this menace with the urgency it deserves,” he added.

It was reported earlier that bandits attacked St. Mary’s Catholic School in Agwara, Niger State, and kidnapped several students and staff, though the exact number is still unknown.

The Niger State government confirmed the incident and revealed it had earlier warned of rising security threats in the area, even ordering all boarding schools in the zone to close temporarily.

However, St. Mary’s reopened without approval, the government said. Security agencies have now launched a full investigation and rescue operation.

Hours after the Niger attack, another set of schoolchildren were reportedly abducted from Peter’s Foundation Secondary School in Rukubi, Nasarawa State, though police have yet to confirm the details.

These attacks follow a similar incident in Kebbi State just days ago, where 25 students were abducted from a girls’ boarding school, raising fresh concerns about the growing insecurity facing schools across northern Nigeria.