Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim Declares Nigeria at War Over Terrorist Attacks

Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, the Presidential Candidate of the Accord Party, declared on Tuesday that Nigeria is effectively at war due to continuous terrorist attacks and armed criminal activity. He cited recent killings in Kaduna, Zamfara, and Plateau states, alongside abductions in Kebbi State—including the kidnapping of a High Court judge—as evidence of a national emergency.

Olawepo-Hashim criticized the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for lacking a coherent strategy to defeat these groups, describing the current government response as reactive. He pointed to the deaths of over 30,000 people and the displacement of 3.7 million citizens during the first three years of the current administration to highlight the severity of the crisis.

To restore security, Olawepo-Hashim urged the Federal Government to overhaul the national security architecture. He called for a transition toward a proactive offensive doctrine that prioritizes intelligence superiority and the disruption of terrorist financing over the current practice of offering condolences after attacks occur.