Emmanuel Obi
The 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration of failing to secure Benue State, warning that the worsening insecurity is threatening food production and pushing up the cost of living.
Atiku made the remarks in a statement posted on his X account on Monday while describing Benue as the “Food Basket of the Nation” and saying the state was now “bleeding.”
He cited an Amnesty International report which he said recorded 6,896 deaths in Benue within the first two years of the Tinubu administration.
According to Atiku, the killings have forced farmers away from their farms, displaced families and disrupted communities, with consequences being felt in food prices across the country.
“When Benue cannot farm, Nigeria cannot eat cheaply,” he said.
The ADC candidate said insecurity had become more than a security issue, arguing that farmers driven away from their land ultimately contribute to higher prices of food items including yam, rice, beans, vegetables and meat.
“Insecurity is not only a security crisis; it is now a cost-of-living tax on every Nigerian family,” Atiku said.
He also questioned the use of resources made available following the removal of the fuel subsidy, saying Nigerians were told the policy would free funds for development and security.
Atiku referenced Nigeria Customs Service figures which he said showed about ₦34 trillion in import-duty exemption approvals in 2025, with a substantial portion reportedly linked to military hardware.
“So Nigerians are entitled to ask a simple question: Where is the security? Where are the results?” he asked.
The former Vice President, who described himself as a farmer, said his own farms had also experienced theft and disruption, adding that he understood the impact of insecurity on agricultural production and livelihoods.
Atiku said the Benue crisis could be resolved, recalling his previous efforts to broker peace between Tiv and Fulani communities.
He stressed that criminality should not be associated with any particular ethnic group, saying criminals must be punished while farmers and livestock owners are protected.
“A killer is a killer. A thief is a thief. We must punish criminals, protect farmers, secure livestock owners, and restore peaceful coexistence,” he said.
Atiku made the remarks while receiving ADC candidates contesting various elective positions in Benue State. He urged them to make the protection of lives, restoration of livelihoods and revival of the state’s agricultural economy central to their political mission.
“Tinubu removed the subsidy. Nigerians paid the price. Government got the resources. Benue should not still be paying with blood,” Atiku said.
