Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has raised an alarm over an alleged plot to assassinate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar following what he described as the suspicious withdrawal of all police personnel attached to him.
Frank made the allegation in a statement issued on Tuesday, saying the decision to remove Atiku’s security detail, despite his statutory entitlement as a former Vice President, was “deliberate, dangerous, and politically motivated.”
He said no administration since 2007 had interfered with Atiku’s security arrangement, even though he had consistently remained a prominent opposition figure.
According to him, “No administration since 2007 has ever tampered with Atiku Abubakar’s security, despite his consistent role as a major opposition figure. Why now? Why at a time when insecurity is at an all-time high across the country? This action clearly reveals an ulterior motive.”
Frank dismissed claims that the withdrawal of security was a blanket measure affecting various VIPs, describing it as a “smokescreen.”
“This so-called blanket withdrawal is a cover-up. The real objective is to isolate and eliminate Atiku ahead of the 2027 election. The pattern is too obvious to ignore. Atiku, by law, is entitled to police protection as a former Vice President. Removing his security at this critical time is deliberate and dangerous,” he said.
The activist, who serves as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, said the move reflected a rising trend in some African countries where opposition leaders are allegedly intimidated or eliminated to consolidate power.
He alleged that the federal security architecture was now dominated by individuals loyal to the President, a situation he claimed had heightened concerns about political interference.
“It is no coincidence that nearly all top security positions are held by people from the President’s ethnic group. They were appointed to carry out political dirty jobs, and this is one of them,” he said.
Frank, who also serves as Senior Advisor to the Global Friendship City Association (GFCA), USA, urged Nigerians and the international community — including the United States, the United Kingdom, the African Union, and ECOWAS — to closely monitor the situation.
He warned that the withdrawal of security resembled a pattern seen in communities where security operatives were allegedly removed shortly before attacks occur.
“We alert Nigerians and the international community: if anything happens to Atiku Abubakar, this government should be held responsible. The pattern is the same one used in communities where security agents are suddenly withdrawn before bandits strike. They are attempting to create room for something sinister,” he added.
Frank challenged the government to demonstrate the sincerity of its policy by withdrawing security personnel attached to the President’s relatives and associates.
“If this directive is truly nationwide, then let the President’s family members, friends, and appointees also lose their security. They are also VIPs. But we know the truth: the main target is Atiku Abubakar — nobody else,” he said.
He concluded by warning that Nigeria’s democracy was “entering dangerous territory,” adding that any attack on Atiku or other opposition leaders could plunge the country into crisis.
“Nigeria is entering dangerous territory. Any attack on Atiku or any opposition leader will plunge this nation into crisis. The world must not wait until it happens,” Frank said.
