Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, rejects claims by Nigeria’s Presidency that he remained silent after abducted schoolchildren and teachers were rescued in Oyo State. In a statement released July 11, 2026, Atiku’s aide Phrank Shaibu says the allegation is false, asserting that Atiku had already issued a public message welcoming the rescue and commending the Armed Forces and other security agencies for their role.
Shaibu says the Presidency did not verify the earlier statement, arguing it either failed to read it or ignored it. According to the reports, Atiku’s earlier message—titled “A Nation at War Needs a Commander-in-Chief, Not a Campaigner-in-Chief”—welcomes the operation, praises the professionalism and courage of security personnel, and urges continued efforts to free other Nigerians still in captivity.
The statement also criticizes what it describes as misplaced priorities by the President during the incident, contrasting Atiku’s support for the security operation with questioning the President’s focus on partisan politics. Atiku calls for the government to concentrate on addressing security challenges rather than targeting the opposition’s statements.
