Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the abduction of a school principal, a National Examinations Council (NECO) official and students during an ongoing examination in Kogi State, warning that criminals now see schools as "abandoned territories."

Reacting to the attack on Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in Dekina Local Government Area, Atiku described the incident as evidence that the Nigerian state has failed in its fundamental responsibility to protect lives, educational institutions and the nation's future.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President said examination halls should be places of hope rather than scenes of violence.

He lamented that school administrators and examination officials are now being forced to contend with kidnappers instead of carrying out their duties.

Atiku argued that the Kogi incident was not an isolated case but part of a growing pattern in which educational institutions have become attractive targets because criminal groups no longer fear the consequences of attacking schools.

He also linked the worsening insecurity to what he described as the Federal Government's neglect of the education sector.

According to him, rising examination fees, inadequate investment in public education and the failure to secure learning environments amount to a double assault on Nigerian children by making education more difficult to access while exposing those who remain in school to violent attacks.

The former Vice President further called for the immediate and unconditional rescue of all those abducted and urged the Federal Government to undertake a comprehensive review of security arrangements around schools and examination centres nationwide.

He also advocated measurable security reforms to restore public confidence and safeguard educational institutions.