The African Democratic Congress has strongly condemned the recent deadly bomb explosions in Maiduguri, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently return to the country and confront what it described as a worsening security crisis.
In a statement released on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party stressed that the protection of lives and property must take precedence over all other engagements, including political and diplomatic commitments.
The call follows a wave of coordinated attacks that struck key locations across Maiduguri on Monday night. The explosions reportedly occurred almost simultaneously at the bustling Monday Market, the Post Office, and near the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. The attacks left at least 23 people dead and hundreds injured, sending shockwaves through the city and reigniting fears about security in the region.
Describing the incident as tragic and unacceptable, the ADC said the scale and coordination of the bombings highlight the urgent need for decisive leadership and immediate intervention at the highest level of government.
“The safety of Nigerians must come first,” the statement emphasized, noting that the president’s physical presence and direct oversight are critical at a time when citizens are grappling with renewed threats to their security.
The party argued that the incident reflects deeper systemic challenges within the nation’s security framework, urging the Federal Government to reassess its current strategies and adopt more effective measures to curb violent attacks.
Maiduguri, long regarded as the epicenter of insurgency in Nigeria’s Northeast, had experienced a period of relative calm in recent years. However, the latest bombings have raised fresh concerns about the resilience of security gains and the potential resurgence of coordinated violence in the area.
Residents described scenes of panic and confusion as emergency responders rushed to the affected sites, while hospitals struggled to attend to the influx of injured victims. The attacks targeted both commercial and public service areas, amplifying their impact on daily life in the city.
The ADC’s statement adds to a growing chorus of voices demanding urgent action from the Federal Government. While political parties continue to trade criticisms and recommendations, many Nigerians remain focused on the need for concrete steps to prevent further loss of life.
Security analysts have repeatedly stressed the importance of intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and community engagement in addressing threats of this nature. The latest incident, they say, underscores the complexity of Nigeria’s security challenges and the need for sustained, coordinated responses.
As the nation mourns the victims of the Maiduguri blasts, attention is now firmly on the Federal Government’s next steps—and whether renewed strategies will be implemented to restore confidence and ensure lasting peace in the region.
