Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the circumstances surrounding the reported killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba, describing it as a reflection of both political and military shortcomings amid a renewed wave of terrorist activities in the country.
In a statement shared on X on Monday, Atiku said he was “deeply saddened and extremely shocked” by the news of Uba’s death, faulting the military leadership for failing to provide a clear account of the incident. He insisted that President Bola Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief, must intensify efforts to protect Nigerians.
Atiku wrote: “I am deeply saddened and extremely shocked and disturbed by news making the rounds of the killing of Brig. Gen. Musa Uba by terrorists and the failure of the military hierarchy to clearly explain how it happened or what went wrong, as initial official denials indicated that this was not the case.”
He added: “This for me is unequivocally a failure of political leadership as the President seems only more interested in decimating the opposition by all means possible, while forgetting his crucial role as Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces.”
Atiku described the killing of Uba and the accompanying troop casualties as “one death too many,” stressing that the renewed rise of terrorism poses a grave danger to the nation. He urged Nigerians and the military to stay steadfast, assuring that “even this season shall pass away.”
He also called on President Tinubu to take urgent and bold measures, including potentially directing the military to assume full control of Borno or other highly threatened states until stability is restored. According to him, “We must care enough for the men and women who put their lives on the line for our sake.”
Atiku issued a direct warning to the president, stating: “The security of the lives of our people is your primary responsibility … you must live up to it or be humble enough to admit incompetence and either ask for help or resign.”
He concluded by offering condolences to the Nigerian Armed Forces, the family of the late General Uba, and all citizens affected by the country’s worsening insecurity.