Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Tuesday said that he broke down in tears when he got wind of news of the death of dozens of pupils of Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Gujiba Local Government Area of Yobe State in the hands of gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram.
The former VP noted that efforts being made by the Federal Government and the security agencies in the fight against insurgency in the Northeast appear to be ineffective and wondered if the strategies being used are not mere ‘chasing of shadows’.
The heavily armed assailants were reported to have stormed the school’s hostels in a pre-dawn attack that lasted a few hours, leaving tears, blood and sorrow in their tail.
A statement issued by his media office in Abuja said in part: “All the Federal Government had been doing about addressing the security situation in the North-east region of the country amounts to mere chasing of shadows if school walls cannot be protected from armed attacks.
“This will not be the first time in recent times that school children are being attacked, and it is particularly disheartening that the Federal Government is yet to devise a strategy of keeping our schools safe from terror attacks.
“If our counter-insurgency strategies are not strong enough to keep our children safe inside their schools, then one must wonder if such a strategy isn’t mere chasing of shadows”.
Atiku was said to have been particularly piqued by President Goodluck Jonathan’s statement during his Presidential Media Chat on Monday that the government had been successful at limiting Boko Haram’s attacks to the fringes of the country.
“It is important that the Federal Government upped its counter-insurgency strategy and desist from taking credits in pushing armed attacks to the fringes, as the president would like to put it. No Nigerian’s life is less in value to another”, the former vice president stated.
He added that it was imperative for government to ensure security in schools, particularly federal unity colleges because of what he described as their unique role in forging the bond of national unity among pupils from diverse backgrounds in the country.
Atiku expressed his heartfelt condolences to families of the slain school pupils even as he lamented “that innocent school children have become victims of armed attacks”.
may God uplift information nigeria.
Crocodile tears,Atiku should wipe his face and cover his head in shame, may be nigerians do not know that it was under Obasanjo/Atiku that Boko Haram started the main person behind it was Alhaji Dati and co and Obasanjo/Atiku allowed it because they believed it was fighting the opposition party ANPP. They allowed it because of their political interest, today it is a national menace and they are crying wolf because they do not feel safe. Atiku you are a failure !!!
It mmust be crocodile tears, I hope he still remembers how he and others vowed to make Nigeria ungovernable for Jonathan.
What he is saying is right, any nigeria is a potential victim of boko haram attack, let us all leave political and regional sentiment so as we put an end to it, GEJ should act, cos he his our CIC
That’s true.. Atiku Abubakar is right
WE REMEMBER THOSE FAMOUS LINES THAT RAN THUS: THOSE WHO MAKE PEACEFUL CHANGE IMPOSSIBLE MAKE VIOLENCE INEVITABLE, WHY THE CROCODILE TEARS NOW BABA ATIKU? HAS ANY NORTHERN LEADER EVER SPOKEN OUT AGAINST BOKO HARAM, BE IT IBB OR ATIKU?
Crocodile tears indeed! Atiku should hide his face in shame for tryin to showcase the president as not doing enough to stem the tide of violence in the n/east.They instituted this violence through their actions,inactions and inciting comments. They sowed the wind now we are reaping the whirlwind. Gej is not to blame. Terrorism is a complex war. It is not won overnight.