The Borno Elders Forum had advised Buhari against releasing the repentant Boko Haram members.
In a statement on Saturday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku backed call by the Borno Elders Forum, saying he had been vindicated because twice in 2018 he advised Buhari against releasing repentant insurgents.
However, Atiku said the President did not heed his advice.
The former Vice-President said, “Any right thinking person can see that the escalation of the war on Nigeria by Boko Haram/ Islamic State’s West Africa Province, coincides with the introduction of this repugnant policy by the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
“Buhari should cast his mind back to the testimony of Abba Umar, a Boko Haram commander, who after his arrest, boasted that he would return to join the sect in Sambisa if he was ever released.
“Buhari should show a single-minded resolve and commitment to defeating the common enemies of our nation and to do so without betraying any weakness, as this will only embolden the terrorists.”
Atiku warned members of the terrorist group that any of them captured would not be release if elected president.
According to him, instead, they would be punished.
He said under his administration, criminals will not profit from their criminality.