President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a stern warning to bandits, kidnappers and sponsors of terrorism, urging them to surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian state.
Speaking during his June 12 Democracy Day address marking 27 years of uninterrupted civilian rule, Tinubu said his administration would not show mercy to those responsible for violence and bloodshed across the country.
“To bandits, kidnappers and sponsors of terror: surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State,” the President declared. “These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. No mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians.”
Tinubu stressed that security remains a top priority of his administration, noting that democracy cannot thrive without safety and stability.
“Democracy without security is a mirage,” he said, adding that the government had declared a security emergency and approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 police officers and thousands of military personnel.
According to him, the 2026 budget allocates N5.41 trillion to defence and security, the highest security spending in the nation’s history.
Highlighting recent gains in the fight against insurgency, Tinubu said Nigerian forces had intensified operations against terrorist groups through enhanced international partnerships and intelligence-driven missions.
“We have moved from training with our allies, the United States, France and other European countries, to precision targeting. In Arege, Borno State, we degraded ISWAP’s command centre,” he said.
The President also revealed that terror-related deaths had dropped significantly since 2015, while security forces had neutralised over 13,000 terrorists in the past year.
He noted that the government continues to provide opportunities for insurgents to surrender through Operation Safe Corridor.
“Over 124,000 fighters and dependents have laid down their arms since 2023 through Operation Safe Corridor,” he said, while reiterating that the opportunity for surrender would not remain open indefinitely.
Tinubu expressed concern over the recent abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states, saying the incidents had dampened the spirit of the Democracy Day celebration.
He paid tribute to members of the armed forces, police and intelligence agencies for their sacrifices in defending the nation.
“Nigeria salutes your sacrifice,” he said.
The President also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and political parties to ensure peaceful and credible elections in Ekiti and Osun states.
“Democracy fails when citizens doubt the process,” Tinubu stated.
He described the National Assembly, judiciary, media and civil society as “the guardrails of our republic,” urging Nigerians to remain committed to democracy despite political differences.
“Criticise me, disagree with me, but never stop believing in Nigeria,” he said.
Tinubu called for national unity in the fight against insecurity, stressing that criminality should not be viewed through ethnic or religious lenses.
“Crime has no ethnicity. We must stand united and be assured that the enemies of our nation shall soon be history. We will triumph over terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation,” he added.
Addressing young Nigerians, the President urged them to remain hopeful and contribute to nation-building.
“Nigeria is your home and your future. Build here, code here, work here and vote here. Every great nation was built by those who stayed to solve problems, not by those who abandoned ship,” he said.
Tinubu also announced plans to honour several pro-democracy activists and national figures who made sacrifices during Nigeria’s struggle for democratic rule. He said the full list of recipients would be released in the coming days.