The Presidency and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have traded words over the reported killing of 5,091 Nigerians in violent incidents over three months.

Atiku described the figure as an indictment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing the government of failing to protect lives and property.

Responding to the former Vice President’s statement, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said security agencies had killed between 13,000 and 20,000 terrorists and rescued over 10,000 Nigerians during the same period.

He accused Atiku of ignoring the gains recorded in the fight against insecurity.