The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Tinubu for attending the Argungu Fishing Festival, describing the visit as poorly timed amid rising insecurity across parts of the country.
In a statement issued Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party warned that terrorists are steadily gaining ground in sections of Kwara State.
Tinubu had travelled to Kebbi State on Saturday for a one-day working visit during which he commissioned projects and participated in the Argungu Fishing Festival.
Reacting to the trip, the ADC said it was troubled that the President attended a celebratory event while security challenges persist, claiming that nearly 1,300 Nigerians had been killed within 41 days and that hundreds — including nursing mothers and children — remain in captivity.
“The African Democratic Congress, ADC, is deeply troubled by the continued deterioration of the security situation in parts of the country, particularly in Kwara State,” the statement read.
“We are especially concerned that at a time of rising insecurity, the President and Commander-in-Chief was in Argungu attending a fishing festival, even as credible reports indicate that nearly 1,300 Nigerians have been killed in the last 41 days. Once again, innocent Nigerians and their families are left to bear the tragic brunt of terror while the President attends a festival.”
The party also referenced a video allegedly released by terrorists following recent abductions in Kaiama Local Government Area, which it said contradicted official figures regarding the number of victims. It added that fresh reports of attacks had emerged from Patigi Local Government Area.
“It will be recalled that the southern part of Kwara State has been under sustained terrorist pressure since last year. Now, with attacks spreading northward at scale, terrorists appear to be tightening their grip on the state and exploiting it as a potential safe haven. The implications for the wider country are both clear and alarming. It is therefore shocking that the President could choose to attend a fishing festival while terrorists threaten to expand their operations.”
The ADC said it would continue to hold the Federal Government accountable while supporting credible efforts to defeat terrorism and reclaim affected territories, warning that Nigeria must not appear weak in the face of violent threats.
“For clarity, we wish to underline the strategic significance of what is unfolding in Kwara State. The Kaiama axis provides a direct link to Oyo State. Any sustained insurgent activity within this corridor could therefore create wider vulnerabilities across parts of the North Central and South West. The situation in Kwara State must not be treated as an isolated incident but as a potential early warning of geographic expansion by terror actors.
“When non-state actors become sufficiently emboldened to publicly contradict official figures, it signals a troubling erosion of deterrence and raises serious questions about the management of both the security and information environments. This could only mean one thing: the terrorists now view kidnapping as a commercial enterprise, and they are determined not to be short-changed in the ransom negotiations they expect will follow.
“On previous occasions, we have reiterated our longstanding position that the payment of ransom to terrorists, whether directly or indirectly, risks further entrenching the criminal economy that sustains mass abductions. While the safe return of victims remains paramount, disguising ransom payments as rescue operations only creates perverse incentives for future attacks.
“Given the gravity of the situation, the ADC expects the Federal Government to immediately undertake the following actions: First, mount a robust and well-coordinated rescue operation to bring every abducted Nigerian home safely.
“Second, issue a full and transparent public briefing that resolves the emerging discrepancies regarding the number of victims. Third, order an urgent security audit of the Kaiama and Kainji Lake forest corridor. Fourth, deploy strengthened interstate security coordination across the Kwara, Niger, and Oyo axis to shut down further terrorist movement. Fifth, maintain regular and credible public communication to restore confidence and deny terrorists the advantage of propaganda.”
