“It is saddening that Nigeria has become a killing field” – Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says Nigeria has become a “killing field”.

Atiku said this in a Facebook post on Friday evening, while reacting to the killing of 21 people, including the village head, by bandits in Madaka, a village in the Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.

Reports say the bandits arrived at the village at about 3 p.m. on Thursday when the community market was in full swing and began shooting sporadically.

The assailants were said to have burnt down about 50 houses and shops, and many cars and motorcycles during the carnage.

Besides the 21 persons killed, an unspecified number of people were also reportedly abducted.

Reacting to the incident, Atiku said, “It is saddening that Nigeria has become a killing field. Thursday’s killing of scores of persons, including the village head and abduction of an unspecified number of people by suspected bandits in Madaka, in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, is yet another confirmation that contrary to assurances, insecurity continues to be rife in our country.

“We have to prioritise security and speed up the process of a constitutional amendment that will introduce State Police so that states and local authorities can deploy mechanisms that best suit their environment in tackling this hydra-headed insecurity in our land.

“Meanwhile, my thoughts and prayers are with the families of the bereaved and the government and people of Niger State.”