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Date: July 28, 2026
By Kimberly Wilson
ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Accord Party presidential candidate Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has criticized President Bola Tinubu's administration over what he described as the absence of a coherent strategy to end terrorism, declaring that Nigeria is effectively "at war" while armed groups continue to dictate the pace of violence across the country. His remarks follow a series of deadly attacks in Kaduna, Zamfara, Plateau, Kebbi, and other states that have left dozens of civilians dead and many others displaced.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Olawepo-Hashim said the Federal Government must urgently overhaul Nigeria's security architecture and shift from a reactive approach to a proactive strategy focused on preventing attacks before they occur.
"Nigeria is under attack. This is war, yet the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has no strategy to end it. As long as terrorists determine the time, place and intensity of attacks, they, and not the government, retain the strategic initiative," he said.
The Accord Party chieftain argued that the continuing wave of attacks demonstrates that terrorists and armed criminal groups are maintaining the upper hand by deciding when and where to strike, while security forces are often left responding after communities have already suffered heavy casualties.
Olawepo-Hashim claimed that more than 30,000 people have been killed during the first three years of the Tinubu administration, with over 3.7 million Nigerians living in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, describing the scale of the crisis as meeting the "textbook definition of war."
He warned that the prolonged insecurity is damaging every aspect of national life, including economic growth, food production, investment, and national unity.
"The first responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and property. No nation can prosper while its citizens live in fear and entire communities remain at the mercy of terrorists and criminal gangs," he said.
According to Olawepo-Hashim, Nigeria needs a comprehensive national security strategy built around intelligence gathering, precision military operations, stronger border security, community-based policing, modern surveillance technology, disruption of terrorist financing, and closer security cooperation with neighbouring countries.
He also stressed that military success requires taking the initiative away from armed groups rather than simply responding after attacks have occurred.
"Wars are not won by reacting to attacks after they happen. They are won by denying the enemy the capability, freedom and confidence to launch them in the first place," he stated.
The statement follows a succession of deadly incidents across northern Nigeria, including mass killings in Kaduna State, attacks in Zamfara and Plateau states, and the recent kidnapping of a Kebbi State High Court judge. These attacks have renewed public concern over the country's security challenges and intensified calls for stronger measures to protect vulnerable communities.
While extending condolences to victims and their families, Olawepo-Hashim argued that expressions of sympathy alone are no longer sufficient.
"Condolence is becoming a ritual proving too inadequate to stop the killings. Proper care for the displaced and distressed is what is immediately needed," he said.
His comments add to the ongoing national debate over Nigeria's security policies as the government continues military operations against terrorist groups, bandits, and other armed criminal networks. The Federal Government has repeatedly stated that security forces remain committed to restoring peace and protecting communities across affected regions, while critics continue to call for broader reforms and a more comprehensive long-term security strategy.