Atiku Abubakar Calls for Nigeria's Counterterrorism Reform

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria, has called for a significant overhaul of the nation's counterterrorism framework, asserting that the current federal government's approach is inadequate in addressing evolving security threats. In a statement issued by Frank Shaibu, his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Abubakar noted that terrorists are learning from each attack, which necessitates urgent reforms.

He highlighted the tragic pattern of attacks across Nigeria, including incidents in Chibok and Oyo State, indicating that the existing counterterrorism strategies are no longer sufficient. Abubakar proposed a comprehensive review of Nigeria's national counterterror policy, emphasizing the need for community-driven solutions rather than relying on foreign templates.

He suggested establishing a peer review mechanism for local leaders and security personnel to share experiences and improve security plans. Additionally, he called for enhanced intelligence gathering, border security, and collaboration between citizens and security agencies to disrupt terrorist financing networks.