Atiku accuses Shettima of behind Chibok girls abduction, terrorism in Borno as governor

By Peters Monday

Following comment on Tinubu/Shettima tribunal victory, the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the vice president, Kashim Shettima, for aiding and abetting the abduction of Chibok girls through his actions and inactions.

Atiku asserted this through his spokesperson, Phrank Shuaibu, on Friday.

It was recalled that nearly 300 schoolgirls were abducted by terrorists in 2014, the incident sparked widespread outrage locally and internationally.

Expressing disappointment, following the outcome of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) affirming Bola Tinubu’s electoral victory, Shettima had jokingly said he would retire Abubakar to Fombina where he would set up a livestock farming for him.

In a statement on Friday, however, Shuaibu berated Shettima for speaking recklessly and lacking tact and decorum.

Shuaibu tackle Shettima over his speech deficiency and “love to rack lackluster jokes.”

“Shettima opened the floodgates of terror,” Mr Shuaibu said. “During his tenure as governor between 2011 and 2019, Borno State was taken over by terrorists completely.”

“He ignored a security report about an impending attack on Chibok which ultimately led to the abduction of over 250 schoolgirls,” he added.

Boko Haram insurgency took a deadlier and devastating dimension under Shettima’s administration in Borno.

In 2014, nearly 300 school girls were kidnapped from their dormitory in Chibok community, an incident that gained global attention and condemnation.

“Well it took quite a while”, Mr Shettima said when asked in a CNN interview how long it took for him to hear from then president Goodluck Jonathan on the abduction.

“For the first three weeks, we were politicking and there is a whole of difference between governance and politics. Instead of us to frontally address the situation, we were busy looking for scapegoat,” Mr Shettima said.