ADC Warns FG: Deals With Bandits Are Expanding Nigeria’s ‘Banditry Economy’

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised strong concerns over the Federal Government’s approach to tackling insurgency and banditry, warning that negotiating with armed groups is a dangerous path that undermines national security.

In a statement, the party expressed joy that several kidnap victims have been reunited with their families, including worshippers abducted from Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke-Isegun, Eruku, in Kwara State, and schoolgirls taken from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State. However, the ADC stressed that these abductions were preventable and should never have occurred if the government had been fully alive to its constitutional duty to protect lives and property.

According to the party, the current wave of insecurity is a direct consequence of an administration that appears distracted by politics and is increasingly behaving “less like a democratic government and more like an occupying force.” The ADC argued that it was “telling” that it took a chastening remark from former United States President Donald Trump to provoke what it described as a reluctant and inadequate response from the Nigerian government.

Peace Talks” With Bandits and the ADC raise Fears of a Dangerous Precedent

While welcoming the safe return of the abducted victims, the ADC said it is deeply troubled by the opaque manner in which their release was secured and the conflicting narratives emerging from government officials. The party alleged that the Federal Government is engaging in negotiations with insurgents and bandits under the guise of peace talks.

The ADC cited a statement credited to the Inspector General of Police, who reportedly said that the perpetrators of the Kwara church attack were not arrested because they “came out voluntarily for the peace talk.” Equally disturbing to the party was a remark attributed to Presidential Spokesman Bayo Onanuga, suggesting that the abducted victims were freed simply because the government and security operatives “asked them nicely.”

These accounts, the ADC argued, raise serious questions about what exactly transpired behind closed doors. The party queried whether ransom was paid to the insurgents, what was exchanged for the supposed “surrender of weapons,” and what safeguards exist to prevent the same criminals from acquiring new arms and returning to their trade. It also questioned how justice would be served for those who were shot and killed in cold blood during these attacks if their killers are allowed to go free in the name of peace.

According to the ADC, negotiating with bandits as a primary strategy for tackling insecurity signals a government in search of shortcuts rather than a leadership prepared to confront the problem decisively. By appeasing insurgents, the party warned, the administration risks entrenching and expanding what it called the “banditry economy,” where crime becomes profitable and perpetrators are rewarded with attention, resources, and leverage.

Recurring Attacks and the Vicious Cycle of Terror

The ADC pointed to the swift return of bandits to the same Ekiti Local Government Area in Kwara State barely a day after the release of the church worshippers as evidence that the government’s approach is not working. In that subsequent attack, 11 more people were reportedly abducted in Isaac Community, further compounding the fears of residents and reinforcing the perception that criminals now operate with impunity.

The party argued that any system that focuses mainly on “rescuing” victims without systematically arresting and prosecuting perpetrators will only deepen the cycle of terror. It warned that such an approach sends the wrong signal to criminal networks, suggesting that they can abduct at will, negotiate favourable terms, release some victims, and then return to target new communities.

For the ADC, the unanswered questions remain: Who is being held accountable? What deterrent is in place if those responsible for murder, kidnapping, and extortion are not made to face justice? And how can citizens trust a security strategy that appears to prioritise quick political gains and public relations victories over long-term safety and justice?

School Closures and the Growing Cost of Insecurity in Nigeria

In a related development, the ADC expressed concern over the Federal Government’s decision to order the closure of 47 Federal Unity Colleges across the country in response to escalating abductions of schoolchildren. Several state governments have also shut schools and sent pupils home, citing fears of possible attacks.

While acknowledging the need to safeguard students, the party warned that widespread school closures represent a heavy and dangerous cost of insecurity. It argued that shutting down schools is an admission that the state can no longer guarantee basic safety in educational environments, and risks undermining years of progress in expanding access to learning.

The ADC further stressed that the closure of schools is particularly damaging in a country already grappling with millions of out-of-school children. Sending students back home because of banditry, the party noted, effectively allows criminal elements to dictate the pace of national life and development. Instead of negotiating with insurgents and retreating from vulnerable communities, the party called for a comprehensive security overhaul, accountability for security lapses, and a clear, transparent strategy that prioritises both justice and deterrence.