Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cited 5,091 reported deaths over three months to criticise the Tinubu administration's handling of national security, calling it a "damning indictment" of governance. He linked the high death toll to fiscal indiscipline and poor implementation of security funding, arguing that protecting lives remains the government's primary duty. Atiku acknowledged recent military pay increases but stressed they do not resolve deeper operational challenges such as inadequate equipment and welfare for troops.
In response, Temitope Ajayi, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, said security agencies have killed between 13,000 and 20,000 terrorists during the same period and rescued at least 10,000 Nigerians. He cited the recovery of 308 abductees in Kwara and Niger states as evidence of progress, accusing Atiku of promoting a "politics of despair" by ignoring these efforts. Force spokesperson Ani Iniedu added that intelligence reports indicate violent crime has "drastically reduced" in the past six months.
The exchange has sharpened into a political debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with Atiku framing insecurity as proof of broader governance failures while the presidency highlights offensive operations and rescue successes. Atiku, who was the African Democratic Congress' presidential candidate in the last election, described each death as a broken family and a community living in fear. The presidency maintains that its strategy is disrupting terrorist logistics networks and arresting informants and suppliers.
Atiku points to 5,091 deaths while the presidency cites up to 20,000 terrorists killed in the same period—neither side provides verified data linking the figures to measurable safety improvements for named communities. Without independent confirmation, the public cannot assess whether the claimed operations have reduced actual risk for Nigerians in conflict zones.
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