Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has faulted the Federal Government’s reaction to the release of abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi State, arguing that their freedom should not be celebrated as an achievement but seen as further proof of Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.

In a statement issued by his media office on Wednesday, Atiku said the safe return of the girls was “not a trophy moment” but a stark reminder that violent groups now operate openly, negotiate freely and dictate the pace while government officials issue statements to save face. His remarks were in response to comments by Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, during an interview on Arise News TV on Monday.

Onanuga had praised the efforts of the Department of State Services and the military, noting that security operatives tracked the kidnappers in real time and established communication that helped secure the children’s freedom without paying ransom. According to him, although the agencies possess actionable intelligence, their operations are often limited by the risk of harming civilians held by the abductors.

He explained that security forces know the identities and locations of the bandits but must act cautiously to avoid civilian casualties, adding that they cannot storm the area without the risk of harming innocent residents.

Atiku, however, dismissed this reasoning as a shameful attempt to whitewash a national tragedy and disguise government ineffectiveness as heroism. He questioned why, if security agencies had real time access to the kidnappers, they failed to arrest or neutralise them. The former vice president said it was troubling that the government was boasting about talking to terrorists instead of eliminating them and lamented that kidnapping now appears to have become a normalised exchange between criminals and the state.

He argued that the government’s narrative suggests that terrorists and bandits have become an alternative authority, negotiating, collecting ransom and walking away freely while the presidency celebrates their cooperation. According to him, no responsible nation praises itself for negotiating with criminals it claims to be monitoring closely.

The abduction took place on November 17 when gunmen invaded Government Girls’ Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, killed one staff member and abducted 25 students from their hostel. One student escaped shortly after, leaving 24 in captivity until their release on Tuesday.

President Bola Tinubu welcomed the news, expressing relief that all 24 girls had been accounted for and commending security agencies for their coordinated efforts. He also directed the deployment of more personnel to vulnerable areas and urged security forces to expedite the rescue of other abducted persons across the country.

Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris confirmed that no ransom was paid and attributed the girls’ release to sustained pressure from security operatives working together with state authorities.