Kwankwaso Criticizes Nigerian Government Amid Terrorist Rampage

Vice‑presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Mohammed Kwankwaso, has condemned the Nigerian government for what he says is a lack of political will to resolve the worsening security crisis sweeping the country.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Kwankwaso criticized the recent unprovoked attacks by “daredevil terrorists” in Zamfara, Borno, Sokoto, Katsina, Kwara and Oyo states, saying that “our citizens can no longer sleep with both eyes closed.”

The former governor of Kano State noted that banditry, kidnapping for ransom, terrorism, communal clashes and armed robbery “have tragically become daily occurrences” in Nigeria.

He added that the most alarming aspect is the “audacity of these criminals, who now brazenly hold live sessions on social media to taunt the authorities and terrorise the public.”

“This is totally unacceptable and not befitting of a sovereign nation like ours,” he said.

“As someone who has served this country at various levels, including as Governor of Kano State and Minister of Defence, where we confronted and significantly reduced security challenges through decisive leadership and community engagement, I remain convinced that insecurity is not insurmountable. What we lack today is not resources, but the requisite political will and sincerity to confront this menace head‑on.”

“The current approach has clearly failed. Despite massive budgetary allocations to the security sector, the situation continues to deteriorate rapidly. Innocent lives are being lost daily, families are displaced in their thousands, and our economy is suffocating under the heavy weight of fear and instability.”

“We cannot continue on this dangerous path. Nigeria’s security architecture requires an urgent and comprehensive overhaul.”

“Additionally, to safeguard our socioeconomic wellbeing, the government must prioritize the provision of quality education, modern infrastructure, accessible healthcare, reliable electricity supply, and essential agricultural inputs. This approach will strengthen local food production and reduce over‑reliance on imports for food security.”

“We must immediately prioritize the welfare and motivation of our gallant security personnel, strengthen intelligence gathering, enhance community policing, and, most crucially, tackle the root causes of this crisis—poverty, mass unemployment, and poor governance—through massive investment in quality education, skills acquisition, and job creation for our teeming youth.”