Nigeria’s Kidnapping Crisis Worsens Amid Government Criticism

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the Nigerian government’s handling of recent kidnappings, warning that negotiating with bandits undermines national security. In a statement the party expressed relief that some abducted individuals—among them worshippers from the Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara State and students in Kebbi—have been freed. However, the ADC stressed that these abductions should never have occurred if the government had fulfilled its constitutional responsibilities. It accused the administration of being distracted by politics and merely reacting to international pressure.

The ADC noted that the circumstances surrounding the victims’ release remain unclear, citing conflicting statements from senior officials. The party is concerned that the government may be paying ransom or striking agreements with violent groups that have killed innocent Nigerians. Comments from security leaders suggesting that kidnappers were not arrested because they voluntarily emerged for peace talks have raised further questions about the government’s approach. The ADC asked whether ransom is being paid to insurgents and what, if anything, was exchanged for the kidnappers’ alleged surrender of weapons, and it called for justice for the families of those killed by bandits.

The party warned that if negotiation becomes the primary response to insurgency and kidnappings, the country is headed in a dangerous direction. Such a strategy, the ADC argued, avoids confronting the crisis directly and expands the banditry economy. It also criticized the recent closure of Federal Unity Schools following multiple abductions, saying the closures play into extremist ideology. The ADC urged the government to deploy the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to all Unity Schools so they can be reopened immediately. It emphasized that each day schools remain closed, terrorists grow bolder, and Nigeria drifts further from the promise of security and stability.

The ADC’s criticism comes as the Nigerian government faces mounting pressure to address the country’s rising insecurity. The recent kidnappings have sparked widespread concern, and the government’s response has been deemed inadequate. As the situation unfolds, the ADC’s warnings about the dangers of negotiating with bandits and its call for a more effective security approach highlight the urgent need for a comprehensive solution to the crisis.