The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately declare a state of emergency in Katsina and Zamfara states following a surge of violent attacks that have claimed more than 140 lives in just two months.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the killings as evidence of a total breakdown in Nigeria’s security system and berated the Federal Government for its poor response to the crisis.
Citing recent attacks, the ADC condemned the massacre in Malumfashi, Katsina State, where 30 worshippers were gunned down inside a mosque and 20 others burned alive in their homes. It also referenced the killing of 47 people in Zamfara, including 38 victims who were executed despite ransom payments.
“This evil act epitomises the horrors Nigerians have been forced to endure under this administration. It is also damning proof of the collapse of our national security, prompting even the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to urge citizens to learn self-defence,” Abdullahi said.
The party further criticised President Tinubu for what it described as misplaced priorities, accusing him of focusing on foreign engagements while Nigerians at home face daily bloodshed.
Beyond the state of emergency, the ADC demanded a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, insisting that the CDS’s recent advice for citizens to arm themselves underscores the urgent need for reform.
The statement ended with a scathing rebuke of both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing them of being more concerned with power struggles than the safety and welfare of Nigerians.
“Neither the APC nor the PDP genuinely cares about the people. Their obsession with politics has blinded them to the pain and suffering of Nigerians,” the ADC declared.
