Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has called for a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s security policy following renewed attacks on schools and rising insecurity across the country.
He made the call in response to a communique issued at the 2026 National Church Leaders Summit by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which raised concerns over escalating insecurity and urged urgent reforms in the nation’s security architecture.
The communique, issued under the leadership of Archbishop Daniel Okoh, also called for urgent reforms aimed at improving coordination among security agencies and strengthening the country’s response to rising attacks, including those targeting schools.
The former vice president in a statement issued on Wednesday, said the concerns raised by CAN, particularly the demand for a comprehensive overhaul of security structures, strengthened intelligence gathering, improved inter-agency cooperation, enhanced operational effectiveness, and greater accountability in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and violent crime, were consistent with his long-held position on the state of security in the country.
Atiku commended the unity of Christian blocs, including the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, the Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN), TEKAN/ECWA, and the Organisation of African Instituted Churches, for jointly declaring a three-day national mourning in response to the worsening security situation.
He further urged other faith groups, particularly the Muslim community, to join what he described as a national wake-up call for stronger leadership and urgent action on insecurity.
“At least for his remaining months in office, I urge Tinubu to listen to this urgent call from CAN and diligently ponder his courses of action beyond rhetorics,” Atiku said, adding that insecurity continues to affect Nigerians without regard to religion or ethnicity.