Gidan-Bawa Road Killings: Atiku condoles with families of victims, calls for increased security

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Thursday commiserated with the families and the people and government of Sokoto State over the senseless and needless arson attack on unsuspecting victims travelling along the Gidan Bawa-Sokoto axis of Sokoto State by bandits on Wednesday, the 7th of December 2021.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, regreted the loss of lives of innocent persons in such a cruel and gruesome manner by bandits. He expressed worries that these killings have become too frequent in recent times, which calls for concern.
According to Atiku, “We cannot, as a people, continue to live our lives in apprehension for fear of losing our loved ones whenever they embark on a trip. It shouldn’t be!”

While acknowledging the concerted efforts of security agencies to rid our communities of criminal elements, the Waziri of Adamawa stressed the need for special attention to be accorded the northwest zone.

“These criminals cannot be smarter than us.

“As a people, we shouldn’t have to be mourning our loved ones murdered in a manner that is highly provocative, when we are not in a war situation,” he declared.
Atiku stated that in an asymmetric war scenario where the enemy is faceless, boots on ground and air strikes, cannot be the defining strategy in defeating these criminal elements in their devilish activities.

According to the former Vice President, routing these misguided criminal elements out of our communities should include a scaled up intelligence gathering, and community volunteering or participation.

He further urged the governments of the affected states to introduce community sensitization programmes that emphasises on the need to “SAY SOMETHING WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING” untoward taking place in your area.

Atiku Abubakar stressed that community participation in the fight against banditry and kidnapping, by way of having the security agencies collaborate with local vigilantes and community leaders for information gathering is a better means of getting ahead of these criminals to avert harm to anyone or group of persons.

While condoling the families, the government and people of Sokoto State as they grieve yet again, Atiku urged the government of Sokoto State and the neighboring states to see these unrelenting attacks on the lives and livelihood of their citizens as a challenge to their rights to exist and live as free citizens.

He prayed that Allah forgives the shortcomings of the deceased and grants their souls eternal rest.