The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a scathing critique of the federal government following alarming reports that armed groups extorted over N56 million from farmers in Zamfara State.
The party described the development as a clear sign of state failure, calling for urgent federal intervention to prevent Nigeria from spiraling further into insecurity and lawlessness.
In a statement signed by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, the party condemned the growing power of criminal gangs who now impose taxes on Nigerian citizens and control access to farmlands highlighting a deep erosion of state authority.
“When farmers have to pay terrorists before they can cultivate their own land, the problem is no longer just insecurity it is a challenge to Nigeria’s sovereignty,” Abdullahi said.
He described the situation in Zamfara as not merely a regional tragedy but a national emergency, signaling that criminal elements are now contesting governance with the Nigerian state. Abdullahi warned that if these trends persist, Nigeria risks total breakdown in state control across its territories.
Citing a disturbing viral video from Ifelodun Local Government in Kwara State, which allegedly shows a community abandoned due to bandit threats, the ADC emphasized that these are no longer isolated incidents. According to the party, such videos reflect a growing and dangerous pattern across Nigeria, where citizens are left to their fate as entire towns fall under the shadow of non-state actors.
“There are now towns in Nigeria where the elderly, the young, and even the sick have fled for safety. What we are witnessing is not just lawlessness; it is the gradual hollowing out of state presence,” he said.
Abdullahi also expressed disbelief that such a situation could unfold in a country that boasts one of the largest defense budgets in Africa, noting that even with billions allocated to national defense, farmers are left to negotiate survival with warlords.
“Just days ago, about 50 people were abducted in one incident in Zamfara. And yet, the President has remained silent,” Abdullahi lamented.
The ADC challenged the federal government’s selective response to national crises, questioning why a state of emergency was considered in Rivers State, yet Zamfara—with widespread abductions and ‘bandit taxation’ has not received any direct attention from President Tinubu.
In a sharp rebuke, the ADC recalled President Tinubu’s 2014 statement as an opposition leader when he called on then-President Goodluck Jonathan to resign over Boko Haram attacks in the Northeast:
“If you control the armed forces and you are the Commander-in-Chief… why should any part of this country be under occupation?” Tinubu had asked. “In any civilized country Jonathan should have resigned.”
Abdullahi pointed out the irony that under Tinubu’s watch today, the security situation has deteriorated even further, with criminal groups operating with impunity, yet no one is calling for his resignation.
“We are not asking him to resign,” the ADC clarified. “We are asking him to do the job he was elected to do protect Nigerian lives and secure our territory.”
The party concluded with a stark warning: if the Tinubu-led APC government cannot guarantee basic safety in rural farming communities, then it has fundamentally failed in its most important duty.
“You cannot claim to be in charge of a country when your citizens are negotiating with criminals for the right to live and farm,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC’s statement adds to growing national anxiety over the increasing grip of bandits across many parts of Nigeria, and intensifies the pressure on the federal government to restore law, order, and public confidence.
