In a coalition meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) blasted the Federal Government of Nigeria for what it described as a failed approach to tackling the surge in banditry across the country. The party warned that the government’s current security strategy is not only ineffective but is actively allowing a “bandits economy” to flourish — enabling criminals to extort, tax and terrorise vulnerable communities with impunity.
According to the ADC, the extortion of farmers — including reports that armed gangs levied more than ₦56 million from residents in one state — is a clear sign that the state is losing its monopoly on violence and governance. The party pointed out that entire villages in some Local Government Areas have reportedly been abandoned as residents flee recurring attacks, reflecting a collapse in the government’s ability to protect citizens.
Highlighting that Nigeria remains among countries with the highest defence budgets in Africa, the ADC asked how billions in defence spending could coincide with ongoing large-scale kidnappings, bandit taxes on farmers, and mass displacement.
The ADC further criticised official narratives suggesting progress: while the government boasts improved food production and declining instability, the party countered that widespread displacement and soaring costs of farming inputs — worsened by insecurity — tell a contradictory story.
In conclusion, the ADC demanded a rethinking of the federal government’s security strategy. The party urged immediate action to dismantle criminal networks, protect farmers and rural communities, restore state authority, and hold security agencies accountable — warning that failure to do so risks institutional collapse and state failure.
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