The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Federal Government to confront banditry and other security threats in Nigeria with the same urgency it displayed during the “swift intervention” in the Benin Republic following the recent coup attempt.
On Sunday, soldiers in the neighbouring Francophone country announced a takeover of government. Within hours, the Benin Republic presidency clarified that President Patrice Talon was safe and that the “regular” army had begun restoring control. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) also provided support by conducting combat air patrols over Cotonou.
In a statement issued Monday, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC’s national publicity secretary, urged the government to demonstrate comparable resolve in tackling insurgency, banditry, and violent crime within Nigeria’s borders. He argued that the government’s ability to act rapidly abroad contrasts sharply with its slow and inconsistent approach to domestic insecurity, which continues to devastate communities.
Abdullahi further warned about rising democratic instability in West Africa, stressing that the strongest defence against anti-democratic actions is good governance that improves citizens’ welfare and accommodates dissenting voices.
“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) welcomes Nigeria’s swift intervention in the Benin Republic following the announcement of a coup attempt,” the statement said.
“We commend the Federal Government for acting promptly to defend constitutional order in our neighbourhood. However, the government must align this intervention with the legal provisions of our Constitution.
“While the unilateral action taken by the President might have been expedient, it still requires ratification by the National Assembly for military deployment outside Nigeria.”
Abdullahi also questioned Nigeria’s inconsistent actions regarding foreign interventions, noting that the country did not respond with equal urgency in Guinea-Bissau, even when a former Nigerian president faced danger.
“Consistency in our mode of operations, especially in foreign interventions, is essential for any country that seeks to lead the sub-region on democracy and stability,” he stated.
He added that the swift response in Benin raises serious concerns about the government’s handling of Nigeria’s own security challenges.
“If Nigeria could respond decisively to threats across our borders, why has it failed to act with similar urgency at home? Banditry, terrorism, and violent crime continue to hold communities hostage, displace families, abduct children, and parade themselves openly,” Abdullahi said.
He concluded that safeguarding democracy begins with protecting Nigerian lives, restoring security, and rebuilding citizens’ trust in the government.
“The best safeguard against military adventurism is for elected governments to make democracy meaningful by improving citizens’ lives and allowing opposition and alternative voices to thrive,” he added.