ADC Knocks CDS Over ‘Sons of Nigeria’ Comment on Terrorists

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, for referring to terrorists as “sons of Nigeria”, describing the comment as troubling and counterproductive. In a post on X, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said such rhetoric reflects a mindset that weakens the country’s fight against insecurity. […]

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, for referring to terrorists as “sons of Nigeria”, describing the comment as troubling and counterproductive.

In a post on X, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said such rhetoric reflects a mindset that weakens the country’s fight against insecurity.

The ADC recalled a similar remark previously attributed to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who was accused of describing terrorists as “brothers”.

Abdullahi said such framing by top security officials “accommodates and tolerates criminality instead of confronting it”, warning that it blurs the moral and legal boundaries required for an effective security response.

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“These rhetorics reflect a dangerous mindset that accommodates and tolerates criminality instead of confronting it,” he said.

“When a government begins to frame terrorists in familial terms, it blurs the moral and legal lines that must remain clear in any serious security response.”

He added that the prevailing approach helps explain why efforts to curb killings have struggled to deliver results, insisting that the situation must not be allowed to persist.