Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for a full military occupation of Borno and other Nigerian states plagued by insurgents and armed groups, following the killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba in an ambush reportedly carried out by terrorists.
In a statement shared on social media and issued through his media office on Monday, Atiku said he was “deeply saddened, extremely shocked and disturbed” by the death of the senior officer. He criticized the federal government for what he described as a lack of transparency surrounding the incident.
Initial reports had initially suggested that the general survived, but it later became clear he and several of his troops had been killed. Atiku described the conflicting accounts as evidence of leadership failure. “This for me is unequivocally a failure of political leadership as the President seems more interested in decimating the opposition by all means possible, while forgetting his crucial role as Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces,” he said.
The former vice president warned that the killing signals a dangerous resurgence of terrorist activity that the country cannot afford to ignore. He urged citizens and military personnel to remain resolute, expressing confidence that “even this season shall pass away.”
Directly addressing President Bola Tinubu, Atiku emphasized that protecting the lives of Nigerians is the president’s foremost responsibility. “You must live up to it or be humble enough to admit incompetence and either ask for help or resign,” he said.
Speaking from the perspective of a former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku said that if he were in office, he would have ordered the armed forces to take full control of Borno State or any other areas dominated by bandits or insurgents until the territories were fully cleared. “We must care enough for the men and women who put their lives on the line for our sake,” he added.
Atiku extended condolences to the Nigerian Armed Forces, the family of the slain general, and all Nigerians affected by the renewed wave of insecurity. He expressed hope that “this dark period” would pass swiftly.
The general’s death has reignited national conversations about Nigeria’s prolonged counterinsurgency efforts, the safety of frontline troops, and the urgent need for a more decisive response to insecurity across the country.
