ABUJA, Nigeria: Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticised Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Friday, June 5, 2026, at 1:18 p.m. WAT, over the continued captivity of pupils and teachers abducted in Oyo State.
Okay News reports that Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, accused the Federal Government of Nigeria of failing to demonstrate sufficient urgency in securing the release of the victims.
The criticism was delivered in a public statement issued by Abubakar’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu. “It is difficult to understand how a government that claims to care for its citizens could continue to project an atmosphere of celebration while innocent children and their teachers remain at the mercy of kidnappers. Leadership is not merely about occupying office; it is about demonstrating empathy when citizens are in distress,” Abubakar said.
Abubakar stated that Nigerians expected stronger public advocacy from Oluremi Tinubu, arguing that political activities should not take precedence over the safety of the victims. “What kind of mother can comfortably sleep, dance, celebrate political victories, receive campaign groups, and distribute luxury vehicles while toddlers, schoolchildren, and their teachers remain in captivity?” Abubakar said.
“A true mother does not celebrate while her children are missing. A true mother does not preside over political festivities while families are trapped in agony, praying daily for the safe return of their loved ones. A true mother would use every platform available to keep the plight of those children at the forefront of national consciousness until they are safely reunited with their families,” Abubakar said.
Calling on the government to deploy all available security and intelligence resources, Abubakar warned that frequent kidnappings erode public confidence. “When children are missing, the nation expects urgency. When teachers are abducted, the nation expects compassion. What Nigerians do not expect is political pageantry. They do not expect campaign songs. They do not expect celebrations. They certainly do not expect luxury gifts being handed out to political loyalists while families are living through one of the darkest moments of their lives,” Abubakar said.
The pupils and teachers were abducted in Oyo State nearly three weeks ago.
