The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has pledged a firm and uncompromising response to Nigeria’s insecurity, declaring that terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers would be treated strictly as enemies of the state under its administration.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the statement on his X account on Friday, stressing that there would be no ambiguity in addressing security threats.

“Under an ADC government, there will be no ambiguity. Bandits, kidnappers and terrorists will be treated the same as all enemies of Nigeria. We will establish special terrorism courts to ensure swift prosecution,” he said.

Abdullahi outlined a multi-layered counter-terrorism framework anchored on grassroots intelligence gathering at the local level, preventive and deterrent measures at the state level, and coordinated enforcement at the national level. He added that the strategy would also prioritise regional collaboration with neighbouring countries.

Reaffirming the party’s stance, he said the ADC would prioritise the safety of citizens above all considerations, warning of strict consequences for acts of violence.

“We will not accommodate terrorists. The message will be clear: there will be severe consequences for killing a Nigerian. A terrorist is neither a son nor a brother; they are enemies and will be treated as such,” he added.

Abdullahi also criticized recent statements by security officials that used familial terms to describe terrorists, warning that such rhetoric “reflects a dangerous mindset that accommodates and tolerates criminality instead of confronting it.

“First, the NSA referred to terrorists as his brothers. Now, the Chief of Defense Staff is referring to terrorists as sons. When a government begins to frame terrorists in familial terms, it blurs the moral and legal lines that must remain clear in any serious security response.

“With this mindset, it is easy to understand why the current approach has struggled to protect lives and decisively end the killings. This must not be allowed to continue.” (The Nation)