President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Friday issued strongest warnings to terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and their sponsors, declaring that the era of leniency is drawing to a close and that those who continue to shed innocent blood will face the full might of the Nigerian state.
Speaking during his Democracy Day address, the President said his administration remains determined to eliminate insecurity and restore peace across the country.
The President disclosed that the government had declared a security emergency and approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 new police officers and thousands of military recruits to strengthen the nation’s security architecture.
“Democracy without security is a mirage. That is why this administration declared a security emergency and approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 new police officers and thousands of military recruits,” he said.
The President revealed that the federal government has committed a record N5.41 trillion to defence and security in the 2026 budget.
According to him, Nigeria’s security forces have recorded significant successes against terrorist organisations through improved intelligence gathering, precision operations and international cooperation.
“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 said that terror-related deaths have declined significantly over the years.
“Terror-related deaths are down by 81 per cent since 2015. Over 13,000 terrorists have been neutralised in the past year,” he said.
The President also highlighted the achievements of Operation Safe Corridor, noting that over 124,000 fighters and their dependents have surrendered since 2023.
He warned that opportunities for surrender would not remain available indefinitely.
“To bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror: Surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State.
“These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. No mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to remain united against criminality, insisting that insecurity should never 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,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the nation would ultimately prevail against all security threats.
“We will triumph over terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation,” he said.
