The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, describing the incident as another sign of worsening insecurity across the country.

In a statement released on Wednesday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku criticised the Federal Government’s handling of the situation and called for urgent action to secure the victims’ release.

He faulted reports that government officials visited affected families with rice and cash donations, insisting that parents were more concerned about the safe return of their children than relief materials.

“The cruelty of such a response is difficult to comprehend. Parents whose children have been torn from their arms are not asking for rice,” Atiku said.

He stressed that grieving families needed decisive action rather than palliatives, adding that the government must focus on rescuing the abducted pupils and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

According to him, the growing trend of kidnappings and attacks on schools has created fear among Nigerians, with many families now living under constant anxiety.

“It is a damning verdict on this government that while criminals operate with audacity and freedom, innocent schoolchildren are abducted from their classrooms, and the official response is the distribution of rice,” he stated.

Atiku further argued that the impact of insecurity goes beyond statistics, affecting parents, siblings, communities, and the future of the country.

“These children are not numbers on a government spreadsheet. They are the hopes of families. They are the future of our nation,” he added.

The former vice president urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct security agencies to deploy every available resource toward rescuing the abducted pupils and teachers.

He also called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the attacks, warning that failure to act decisively would encourage more criminal groups.

“A government that cannot protect schoolchildren has failed one of the most basic tests of leadership,” Atiku said.

The abduction in Oyo State has continued to spark reactions across the country, with teachers’ unions, lawmakers, traditional rulers, and civil society groups demanding stronger security measures and the immediate release of all victims.