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By Oscar Okhifo
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its chieftain, Peter Obi, on Thursday said Nigeria’s ranking as the fourth most terrorism-affected country in the 2026 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) is a damning verdict on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing it of failing to secure the nation.
Obi, described the ranking as a painful indictment of failed leadership, warning that while other nations are recording progress in curbing terrorism, Nigeria is sliding backwards.
In a statement released on Thursday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, cited figures from the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026 report, including a 43 per cent surge in attacks and rising civilian casualties, saying the trend reflects a systemic failure in governance rather than mere security lapses.
The ADC also faulted the absence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, at a time of escalating insecurity, noting that their travels abroad raise serious concerns about leadership commitment.
According to the party, the situation highlights a troubling disconnect between the scale of the security crisis and the government’s response, accusing the administration of prioritising optics over decisive action in addressing the country’s worsening insecurity.
The party, however, outlined a three-pronged strategy to address the worsening insecurity, including improved intelligence coordination, decentralized policing to bring security closer to communities, and a shift from reactive to preventive, intelligence-led operations.
Abdullahi said a government committed to protecting its citizens must demonstrate visible and coordinated leadership during crises, strengthen local security structures, and address the socio-economic factors driving recruitment into extremist groups.
Quoting from the statement, the party said: “Against the deeply troubling backdrop of yet another deadly terrorist attack in Borno State, where dozens have been killed, the Global Terrorism Index delivers a clear and troubling verdict on the state of insecurity in Nigeria.
“Nigeria is now ranked the fourth most terrorism-affected country in the world. That is not an abstract statistic but a direct reflection of failure in securing the country.”
It added that terrorist incidents rose from 120 in 2024 to 171 in 2025, with violence heavily concentrated in Borno State, accounting for 67 per cent of attacks and 72 per cent of deaths, while civilians made up 67 per cent of those killed.
The ADC further noted that the threat landscape was evolving, with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) responsible for over half of all attacks and deaths, while Boko Haram remained active and new groups such as Lakurawa were emerging.
“These outcomes point to something deeper than isolated security lapses. They reflect a breakdown in governance, driven by weak institutions, internal instability and economic hardship,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, despite repeated assurances by security agencies that they are on top of the situation, many Nigerians say such claims ring hollow in the face of persistent attacks and rising casualties across the country.
Reacting to the deteriorating security situation, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, urged the military to take the fight directly to terrorists and intensify operations to curb the menace.
Similarly, the Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, called on the Federal Government to take drastic measures, including the possibility of shutting down certain activities until the security crisis is brought under control.
Ndume also advised the government to consider seeking external assistance, including the engagement of mercenaries, to decisively confront the growing threat.
On his part, Obi, in a post on X titled “Nigeria’s Worrisome Terrorism Status,” said the latest GTI report showed Nigeria among countries with the highest increases in terrorism-related deaths.
He attributed the trend to weak governance, corruption, poor prioritization and neglect of the government’s primary responsibility of protecting lives and property.
Obi said: “What is the purpose of government if it cannot protect lives? Why are we normalizing tragedy while other nations make progress?
“This is not the Nigeria we should accept. It is time to move from excuses to action and from failure to measurable progress. A safe and secure Nigeria is not too much to ask; it is the right of every citizen.”