Borgu Killings: Atiku Ask Tinubu, “How Many Nigerians Must Die Before Security Go Work?”

Borgu killings and mass abduction for Niger State don once again put Nigeria security matter under heavy public spotlight, after suspected terrorists reportedly attacked communities around Dekara District and abducted worshippers during Friday Juma’at prayers. ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar don condemn the incident, calling am another serious indictment of the country security architecture and asking how many Nigerians must die before government accepts say something needs urgent fixing.

Atiku Condemns Borgu Attack

Atiku, through statement from im media office, condemn the reported killings and abductions for Borgu Local Government Area. According to am, reports say more than 40 Nigerians were killed and scores abducted, while terrorists allegedly attack communities, disappear and leave security forces to arrive afterwards. Atiku argue say security spending no suppose only dey appear for budget documents; ordinary Nigerians must actually feel the protection for their communities, farms and highways.

But one important clarification dey necessary: the exact number of people abducted for the latest Borgu attack still never clear. Niger State Police confirm say suspected terrorists attacked Gidan-Zana and Kpenya and abducted unspecified number of people from Kpenya Mosque during prayers, while some worshippers escaped. Police say no death was recorded in that particular Friday attack and joint security teams were deployed for assessment and rescue operations.

Borgu Security Crisis Don Become Bigger Story

The latest mass abduction happen against the background of repeated security incidents around Borgu and neighbouring areas. Residents and local officials previously gave estimates of between about 60 and 80 people abducted during the latest attacks, while the Niger State Government later warned people against spreading unverified casualty figures because authorities were still trying to establish the exact number of victims.

The development dey especially troubling because Borgu communities have faced other attacks recently. On August 12, police confirmed recovery of nine bodies along Wawa-Lumma Road in Borgu, with victims suspected to have been killed by bandits while travelling. Earlier in August, the Federal Ministry of Information also reported that security operations had helped secure the release of kidnapped residents from communities including Woro, Konkonso, Pissa and Kasuwan Daji, while government said a new 29 Brigade covering the Kwara-Niger axis and Operation Savannah Shield were being used to strengthen security in the area.

Atiku’s argument therefore goes beyond one attack. He says Nigeria needs stronger intelligence coordination, surveillance and geospatial technology, rapid-response capability and measurable performance standards for security commanders. Na serious point, because if criminals can organise attacks, move weapons, maintain camps and carry out mass abduction before authorities respond, the bigger problem no be only number of soldiers or police officers; na whether intelligence dey reach the right people early enough and whether response dey come fast enough.

The irony wey Nigerians no fit ignore be say security spending fit sound very impressive for official documents, but ordinary citizen no dey eat “security appropriation”. Person wey dey fear to travel, farmer wey no fit reach farm and family wey dey wait for kidnapped relative need protection, not grammar. For Borgu, the immediate priority remain clear: rescue anybody still in captivity, establish the accurate casualty and abduction figures, identify the perpetrators and prevent another attack.

Borgu killings and mass abduction don therefore become another test of whether Nigeria security system fit move from reacting to tragedy after e happen to preventing the tragedy before e happen. Until government and security agencies provide clearer answers and stronger protection, every new attack go continue to raise the same painful question: how many more communities must suffer before security finally becomes something Nigerians can feel, rather than something dem only hear about for speeches and budgets?