The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised Bola Tinubu over his attendance at the Argungu Fishing Festival, accusing him of misplaced priorities amid worsening insecurity across parts of Nigeria.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party expressed concern over reports that nearly 1,300 Nigerians have been killed within 41 days, with many others—including nursing mothers and children—still in captivity.
The ADC described the President’s presence at the festival in Argungu as “a frightening loss of touch with reality,” arguing that communities across the country are grappling with funerals and abductions while terror groups intensify attacks.
The party also raised alarm over a video allegedly linked to recent abductions in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, in which suspected insurgents reportedly challenged official figures on the number of kidnapped victims. According to the ADC, such public defiance signals growing boldness among armed groups and suggests a troubling erosion of deterrence.
It further warned that sustained attacks in the Kaiama axis could create broader security vulnerabilities, noting the corridor’s proximity to neighbouring states and its potential strategic implications for the North Central and South West regions.
The party called on the Federal Government to launch a coordinated rescue operation for abducted victims, provide transparent public briefings on casualty figures, conduct a security audit of affected forest corridors, strengthen interstate security cooperation, and improve public communication to counter extremist propaganda.
Reiterating its opposition to ransom payments, the ADC argued that such transactions risk entrenching a criminal economy that fuels mass abductions.
The party pledged to continue holding the Federal Government accountable while supporting efforts aimed at restoring security and safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
