KEY POINTS

• Nigeria is now ranked 4th globally in the 2026 Global Terrorism Index, with terror attacks rising 43% and civilian deaths increasing, particularly in Borno State.
• ADC blames the Tinubu administration for a leadership vacuum and a failing national security strategy.
• The party proposes coordinated intelligence, decentralized policing, and preventive, data-driven security measures to curb terrorism.

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has condemned the Bola Tinubu-led government over Nigeria’s ranking in the 2026 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), which placed the country fourth globally for terrorism impact. The GTI report highlighted a 43% increase in terror attacks and rising civilian casualties across the country.

Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC National Publicity Secretary, described the ranking as a reflection of governance failure, pointing to recent deadly attacks in Borno State as evidence of an ongoing national security crisis.

Abdullahi criticized the current administration for its perceived lack of leadership during critical times. “While Nigerians live under constant threat, Tinubu, his National Security Adviser, and the Minister of Defence are abroad,” he said, emphasizing the disconnect between national crisis and leadership presence.

The ADC spokesperson also noted that insurgent groups such as ISWAP and Boko Haram continue to perpetrate attacks, with emerging groups like Lakurawa indicating that insecurity is spreading rather than being contained.

ADC Proposes Security Reforms

In response to the worsening security situation, the ADC outlined a comprehensive strategy to tackle terrorism if given the opportunity to govern. The party plans to improve coordination by establishing a legally mandated national intelligence system and a unified Joint Terrorism Task Force to ensure better information sharing and strategic response.

It also intends to decentralize policing, creating a layered system across federal, state, and community levels, each with clear roles and national standards, to enhance accountability and deliver security tailored to local realities.

Furthermore, the ADC emphasizes preventive security measures, aiming to build an intelligence-driven framework powered by data, early warning systems, and rapid response units in every state, with the goal of stopping attacks before they occur rather than merely reacting after lives are lost.