Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, a presidential hopeful under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has issued a stern warning that anyone convicted of terrorism will face life imprisonment if he wins the 2027 elections. The aspirant outlined his security blueprint in a statement released on Tuesday, emphasizing the need for a dedicated terrorism court and enhanced intelligence sharing among security operatives.
Hayatu-Deen highlighted the deep link between insecurity and economic hardship, noting that when farmers cannot cultivate their land, food prices soar; when transport routes are blocked, living costs escalate; and when youths lack employment, criminal gangs find easy recruits. He described this as a vicious cycle where poverty and insecurity feed each other.
To break this cycle, Hayatu-Deen stressed that the state must reassert its authority. He declared that under his leadership, terrorism charges would invariably result in life imprisonment, signaling an end to lenient sentences, backdoor releases, and cases languishing in court for years. His statement pointed to recent deadly attacks in states like Plateau and Benue, which have claimed many lives despite the current administration’s assurances to tackle insecurity.
The ADC aspirant’s tough stance comes as President Bola Tinubu’s government continues to grapple with persistent security challenges across Nigeria.