By Tunji Braimoh, Abuja

The Presidency and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have renewed their war of words over Nigeria’s security situation, with both sides trading accusations over the rising death toll from violent attacks and the government’s handling of insecurity.

The latest exchange followed Atiku’s claim that the reported killing of 5,091 Nigerians within a three-month period was a damning indictment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and sufficient reason for Nigerians to reject the government. The Presidency, however, dismissed the allegation, insisting that security agencies had recorded significant gains in the fight against terrorism, including the elimination of thousands of insurgents and the rescue of numerous kidnapping victims.

Speaking on Sunday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, accused the former Vice President of deliberately ignoring the achievements of the Armed Forces and other security agencies. According to him, official records show that between 13,000 and 20,000 terrorists have been neutralised in recent months, while more than 10,000 Nigerians have been rescued from captivity by the military, the Department of State Services, and the police.

Ajayi argued that Atiku’s focus on casualty figures without acknowledging ongoing security successes amounted to what he described as “politics of despair.” He cited the recent rescue of 308 abducted persons from Niger and Kwara states, as well as several other operations across the country, stressing that security agencies continue to disrupt terrorist networks, arrest collaborators, and rescue victims on a daily basis.

The presidential aide further criticised Atiku for what he described as persistent pessimism, saying a former Vice President should act as a statesman by promoting national unity rather than amplifying fear. He maintained that President Tinubu’s administration was making measurable progress in tackling insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping, adding that the gains would ultimately strengthen the President’s chances in the 2027 election.

Earlier, Atiku, through his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, described the reported deaths as evidence of the government’s failure to fulfil its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property. Citing data attributed to SBM Intelligence, the former Vice President said every casualty represented a family plunged into grief and communities trapped in fear, insisting that the figures should trouble the conscience of any responsible government.

The African Democratic Congress presidential candidate linked the worsening security situation to what he called fiscal indiscipline, wasteful spending, and inadequate implementation of budgetary allocations for defence and national security. He argued that security personnel cannot be expected to effectively confront terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping without adequate equipment, operational funding, welfare packages, and timely payment of allowances.

While acknowledging the recent salary increase for military personnel, Atiku maintained that improved remuneration alone would not resolve the challenges facing troops on the frontline. He called for greater accountability in public spending, insisting that resources must be redirected toward strengthening the nation’s security architecture.

Adding another dimension to the debate, Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, through police spokesperson Ani Iniedu, challenged Atiku’s figures, arguing that available security intelligence and crime analytics indicate that violent crime has declined significantly in recent months. He noted that independent security data available online points to a reduction in violent criminal activities across the country.

The Federal Government has repeatedly highlighted recent security successes, including the rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State, as well as the coordinated operation that freed 308 kidnapped victims in Kwara and Niger states. President Tinubu subsequently directed security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering and early warning mechanisms to prevent future mass abductions.

With the 2027 presidential election drawing closer, the renewed confrontation underscores the growing political contest over security and governance. While Atiku insists that rising casualty figures reflect a failure of leadership, the Presidency maintains that ongoing military operations and rescue missions demonstrate that the government is steadily gaining ground against criminal and terrorist groups.