The Northern Ethnic Youth Group Assembly (NEYGA) has strongly criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi over their recent comments on Nigeria’s worsening insecurity situation.

The group accused both opposition leaders of politicising national security challenges, especially following recent school attacks and kidnappings in Oyo and Borno States.NEYGA reacted to statements made by Atiku and Obi after gunmen abducted several schoolchildren in separate incidents.

Obi had earlier described the situation as evidence of a failing system, saying children are becoming “pawns in a ransom economy,” while Atiku condemned the federal government’s handling of insecurity and questioned its commitment to the Safe Schools Initiative.Atiku also argued that the government was failing in its constitutional duty to protect citizens.However, NEYGA dismissed their comments as unpatriotic and politically motivated.The group argued that both politicians were using the suffering of abducted children to score political points ahead of future elections.

It further claimed that both Atiku and Obi had indirect responsibility for Nigeria’s current security crisis due to failures or shortcomings during their time in public office or associations with past administrations.

The group specifically referenced the early days of Boko Haram under Mohammed Yusuf, alleging that opportunities to contain the group were missed during Atiku’s tenure as Vice President.It also accused Obi of being part of a government that failed to decisively tackle terrorism and kidnapping.

NEYGA insisted that opposition politicians in countries like the United States, Israel, and Kenya often support their governments during national crises instead of criticising them.

The organisation urged Atiku and Obi to exercise restraint when commenting on security issues and to avoid politicising tragedies affecting Nigerian citizens, especially vulnerable schoolchildren.It maintained that insecurity should be addressed collectively rather than used as a political weapon.

In their defence, Atiku and Obi had both highlighted recent mass abductions in northern and southwestern Nigeria, calling attention to the growing threat to education and civilian safety in the country.