The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has reacted to Nigeria's ranking as the fourth most terrorism-affected country, according to the recent Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026 report, which the party attributes to the failures of the government led by Bola Tinubu in safeguarding the nation.
In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party pointed out the report's findings, highlighting a staggering 43 percent increase in terrorist attacks and a worrying rise in civilian fatalities. It emphasized that these issues are indicative of a larger governance breakdown rather than mere security issues.
To combat the rising crisis, ADC proposed a three-pronged strategy aimed at enhancing intelligence collaboration, decentralizing law enforcement to better serve local communities, and transitioning from reactive to proactive, intelligence-driven security operations.
In light of another recent lethal attack in Borno State, which resulted in numerous casualties, the ADC issued a detailed evaluation of the newly released GTI, which paints a grim picture of Nigeria's current security landscape.
“The current statistics rank Nigeria as the fourth most affected country by terrorism worldwide. This reflects a stark reality—specifically the failures of Bola Tinubu's APC administration regarding national security,” the statement read.
The ADC expressed profound concern regarding the ongoing national pain as citizens endure continuous threats while notable leaders, including Tinubu, his National Security Adviser, and the Minister of Defense, are overseas. This discrepancy embodies a leadership vacuum during a national crisis.
The statement urged Nigerians to recognize this moment as a significant indicator of the administrator's priorities, positing that as the nation requires urgent action and concentration, the Tinubu government seems preoccupied with non-essential activities rather than tangible performance.
The report reiterates what many Nigerians already experience: terror incidents surged by 43 percent, escalating from 120 incidents in 2024 to 171 in 2025. The violence is heavily centered in Borno State, responsible for 67 percent of all attacks and 72 percent of fatalities, with civilians making up 67 percent of the casualties, illustrating the severe vulnerability of the populace.
The nature of threats to Nigerian communities is evolving, with ISWAP involved in more than half of the attacks and casualties throughout the country, while Boko Haram remains a threat alongside emerging factions like Lakurawa. This development indicates that Tinubu's strategy for national security is not mitigating insecurity but rather exacerbating it.
These outcomes signal underlying issues beyond isolated security failures, pointing to a collapse in governance. The GTI attributes weak governance, internal strife, and economic difficulties as significant contributors to the rise of terrorism.
The ADC asserted that a responsible government would exhibit visible leadership in times of crisis, bolstering local safety frameworks and addressing the socio-economic factors that drive individuals toward extremism.
Abdullahi stated that should the ADC govern, three decisive actions would be taken to revamp Nigeria's security framework and enhance public safety.
“First, we will enhance coordination. It is not a lack of intelligence that Nigeria faces but rather coordination deficiencies. Currently, agencies work independently, leading to missed warnings and delayed responses. The ADC plans to implement a legally mandated national intelligence coordination system, with a Coordinator of National Intelligence and a united Joint Terrorism Task Force to eliminate disorganization and missed signals,” he explained.
“Next, we aim to bring security measures closer to the citizens. Policing the nation effectively from Abuja alone is insufficient. We will establish a decentralized policing system featuring federal, state, and community layers with explicit roles and national standards to ensure appropriate accountability and a security approach reflective of local needs across the 774 local governments.”
“Finally, we will move from reaction to prevention. Presently, Nigeria’s response follows attacks after losses occur. The ADC aims to implement a predictive security model driven by data, early warning capabilities, and rapid response teams in every state.”
“Our primary focus will be on preempting attacks before they transpire rather than merely reacting after tragedy ensues.”
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