Abductions: Declare state of emergency now – Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Federal Government to immediately declare a state of emergency on insecurity following the latest mass abduction of schoolchildren in Niger State.

Reacting to Friday’s attack on St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, Atiku said the wave of kidnappings across the country has reached a breaking point.

“Not again. This is truly heartbreaking,” Atiku wrote on X.

“How many more lives must be shattered before decisive action is taken? 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.

Gunmen stormed the Catholic-owned school in the early hours of Friday, reportedly arriving in large numbers on over 60 motorcycles and with a van before escaping with an unconfirmed number of pupils.

The attack is the latest in a troubling chain of school kidnappings across the North. Less than a week ago, bandits abducted 26 students of Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State — an incident in which Vice Principal Hassan Makuku was killed while defending the students.

It also came days after at least 30 worshippers were seized during an attack on Christ Apostolic Church, Eruku, in Kwara State, where three people were killed.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier condemned the worsening attacks and directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to visit affected families.