The former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the recent Boko Haram overrun of Mubi and the hoisting of their flag in Adamawa State’s second largest town, as a tragic act and a worrisome affront to the corporate integrity of Nigeria.
Atiku who was abroad when the incident took place in his home State on Wednesday, told a group of journalists on arrival on Friday that the situation is very saddening.
“With what I have gathered so far from online news reports and other sources from Mubi town, the situation is very unfortunate and undermining for our country,” Atiku said.
“If the reports are true that the Armed Forces had abandoned their assigned duty posts a few days before the overrun, it was an indication that the attack was not sudden after all. If the Soldiers also left behind their ammunition and armoured carriers at the mercy of predatory insurgents, it raises a question of complicity in the sordid episode.”
He said the situation becomes more unfortunate because unsuspecting civilians who had relied on security agencies for their protection and were expecting an improvement in their security status as a result of the announced ceasefire, were suddenly left defenceless and at the mercy of the marauders.
Atiku, decried the undercurrent of connivance that might have fuelled the sudden retreat of the military in the face of imminent invasion of a vital commercial town, less than three hours away from Yola the Adamawa State Capital.
“No Commander-in-Chief or General that is worth his salt will surrender his territory with folded arms and running heels,” Atiku said.
“On every occasion that leaders from the North East raised an alarm about the dangerous trend, we have either been ignored or called names.
“If there’s any iota of truth in the suspicion of the people that they were deliberately abandoned, then it becomes a dangerous trend and a bad omen for Nigeria and all Nigerians.”
Atiku told the journalists that he is heading for Yola to meet with those managing the displaced people and see what assistance he can render to reduce the sufferings of the people.