The African Democratic Congress has linked the rising wave of terrorist attacks and increasing civilian deaths in Nigeria to what it described as a breakdown in governance under President Bola Tinubu, citing the 2026 Global Terrorism Index report as evidence of worsening insecurity across the country.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC outlined a three-pronged approach aimed at strengthening intelligence coordination, decentralising policing to enhance community-level security, and transitioning from reactive measures to proactive, intelligence-driven operations.
The Global Terrorism Index report noted that the Sahel region has become the “global epicentre of terrorism,” responsible for nearly half of all terrorism-related deaths for the third consecutive year in 2025. It further revealed that Nigeria rose to fourth place on the index, recording 750 deaths in 2025—a 46 per cent increase from the previous year.
In response, the ADC described the latest index as a clear indication of the shortcomings of the APC government under Tinubu.
“That is not an abstract statistic. It is a direct reflection of the failure of the Bola Tinubu-led APC government to secure the country. At a moment when Nigerians are grieving, and communities across the country are living under constant threat, Tinubu, his National Security Adviser, and the Minister of Defence are abroad. The contrast is clear: a country in crisis, and a leadership that is absent,” the statement partly said.
The party added, “Nigerians should take note of this moment. It raises a fundamental question about Tinubu and the APC’s priorities. At a time that demands focus, discipline, and urgency, the Tinubu government appears more concerned with pageantry, paparazzi, and propaganda—rather than real performance.
“The Global Terrorism Index confirms what Nigerians already know from lived experience. Terror attacks have surged by 43 per cent, rising from 120 incidents in 2024 to 171 in 2025. Violence is increasingly concentrated in Borno State, which now accounts for 67 per cent of attacks and 72 per cent of deaths. Most concerningly, civilians now make up 67 per cent of those killed—a measure of how exposed ordinary Nigerians have become.
“The threat to Nigerian families is also evolving. ISWAP is responsible for over half of all attacks and deaths across the country. Boko Haram remains active and deadly. New groups like Lakurawa are emerging, showing that Tinubu’s national security strategy is not containing the insecurity problem but expanding it.
“These outcomes point to something deeper than isolated security lapses. They reflect a breakdown in governance. The GTI identifies weak governance, internal instability, and economic hardship as key drivers of terrorism. That is not a political talking point—it is the assessment of an independent international body.”
The ADC stressed that a government truly focused on protecting its people would demonstrate visible, coordinated leadership during crises, strengthen local security architecture, and address the economic and social conditions that fuel recruitment into extremist groups.
The party said, “Instead, what Nigerians see is a leadership class that is more preoccupied with political positioning than with the urgent business of governance.
“This is why the ADC will take three decisive steps to fix Nigeria’s broken security system and restore safety across the country:
First, fix coordination. Nigeria does not lack intelligence; it lacks coordination. Today, agencies operate in silos, warnings are missed, and responses are delayed. The ADC will establish a legally mandated national intelligence coordination system, led by a Coordinator of National Intelligence, and a unified Joint Terrorism Task Force. The goal is simple: no more missed signals, no more confusion, no more excuses.
Second, bring security closer to the people. Nigeria cannot be policed effectively from Abuja alone. The ADC will implement a decentralised policing system with federal, state, and community layers, each with clear roles and national standards. This will ensure faster response, clearer accountability, and security that reflects the local realities of the 774 local government areas.
Third, shift from reaction to prevention. Today, Nigeria reacts to attacks after lives are lost. The ADC will build an intelligence-driven, preventive security system powered by data, early warning systems, and rapid response units in every state. The focus will be on stopping attacks before they happen, not merely responding after tragedy strikes.”
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