The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has slammed the administration of President Bola Tinubu over Nigeria’s ranking in the latest Global Terrorism Index.
The ADC said it is a confirmation that the Tinubu administration has failed to secure the country.
In a statement on Thursday, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Bolaji Abdullahi, cited the 2026 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report, which ranked Nigeria fourth among countries most affected by terrorism.
The report said there is a 43 percent rise in terror attacks and an increase in civilian casualties across the country.
Abdullahi said the findings reflect a breakdown in governance rather than isolated security lapses.
“Against the deeply troubling backdrop of yet another deadly terrorist attack in Borno State, where dozens of Nigerians have been killed and many more injured, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has reviewed the newly released Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026, which delivers a clear and troubling verdict on the state of insecurity in Nigeria today,” he said.
“Nigeria is now ranked the 4th most terrorism-affected country in the world. 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.”
Abdullahi criticised what he described as the absence of leadership during a period of national crisis.
“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,” he said.
“The contrast is clear: a country in crisis, and a leadership that is absent.”
He said the GTI report confirmed the worsening security situation across Nigeria.
“The Global Terrorism Index confirms what Nigerians already know from lived experience,” he said.
“Terror attacks have surged by 43 percent, rising from 120 incidents in 2024 to 171 in 2025.”
Abdullahi said violence is increasingly concentrated in Borno state.
“Violence is increasingly concentrated in Borno State, which now accounts for 67 percent of attacks and 72 percent of deaths,” he said.
“Most concerning, civilians now make up 67 percent of those killed. That is a measure of how exposed ordinary Nigerians have become.”
He stated that insurgent groups remain active throughout the country.
“ISWAP is responsible for over half of all attacks and deaths across the country,” he said.
“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.”
Abdullahi said the GTI identified weak governance, internal instability, and economic hardship as drivers of terrorism.
“These outcomes point to something deeper than isolated security lapses,” he said.
“They reflect a breakdown in governance. The GTI identifies weak governance, internal instability, and economic hardship as key drivers of terrorism.”
COORDINATION
He said the party would adopt a three-point strategy to address insecurity if given the opportunity to govern.
“First, we will fix coordination. Nigeria does not lack intelligence; it lacks coordination,” he said.
“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.”
Abdullahi said the party would also decentralise policing.
“Nigeria cannot be policed effectively from Abuja alone. The ADC will implement a decentralized policing system with federal, state, and community layers, each with clear roles and national standards,” he added.
“This will ensure faster response, clearer accountability, and security that reflects the local realities of the 774 local government areas.”
According to the ADC spokesperson, the party would prioritise preventive security operations if elected.
“Today, Nigeria reacts to attacks after lives are lost,” he said.
“The ADC will build an intelligence-driven, preventive security system that is powered by data, early warning systems, and rapid response units in every state.
“Our focus will be to stop attacks before they happen, not merely respond after tragedy strikes.”
