By Ado Oyeyemi
President Bola Tinubu on Friday issued a warning to terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and their sponsors, declaring that the Federal Government would show no mercy to those responsible for the killing and abduction of innocent Nigerians.
In his nationwide broadcast marking Nigeria’s 27th consecutive Democracy Day celebration, Tinubu said perpetrators of terrorism and their financiers must either surrender or prepare to face the full might of the state.
The President revealed that security forces had neutralised more than 13,000 terrorists within the last year, stressing that his administration had intensified efforts to combat insecurity through targeted military operations and expanded security recruitment.
“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.
Tinubu noted that Nigeria’s security strategy had evolved from international training partnerships to precision-led operations against terror groups.
He cited a recent offensive in Arege, Borno State, where security forces reportedly weakened the command structure of the Islamic State West Africa Province.
According to him, terrorism-related fatalities have declined significantly over the years, with an 81 per cent reduction recorded since 2015.
Despite the military gains, the President said the government would continue to provide opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration for repentant fighters.
He disclosed that more than 124,000 former insurgents and their dependants had surrendered under Operation Safe Corridor since 2023.
Tinubu further highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening security through increased funding and manpower.
He said the 2026 budget earmarked N5.41tn for defence and security—the highest allocation in the nation’s history.
The President added that over 50,000 new police officers, alongside thousands of military personnel, had been approved for recruitment to address the growing security demands of Nigeria’s population.
He, however, acknowledged that this year’s Democracy Day celebration was overshadowed by the continued captivity of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo and Borno states.
“Though this year’s mood is dampened by the abduction of our children in Oyo and Borno, we remain hopeful for their safe return. Democracy without security is a mirage,” he said.
Calling for national unity, Tinubu urged Nigerians not to politicise or ethnicise criminal activities, insisting that insecurity should be confronted collectively.
“At a time like this, let us not assign blame or point fingers. Crime has no ethnicity. We must stand united and be assured that the enemies of our nation shall soon be history,” he stated.
The President also addressed concerns over the nation’s electricity sector, describing the power infrastructure he inherited in 2023 as weak and burdened by inadequate generation, transmission bottlenecks and a huge metering deficit.
He said his administration had responded by signing the Electricity Act, which empowers states to generate, transmit and distribute electricity independently.
Tinubu added that the Presidential Power Sector Task Force had been authorised to raise a N4tn bond to clear verified legacy debts, while the Rural Electrification Agency, with support from international development partners, was expanding off-grid and mini-grid power projects across underserved communities.
“Electricity is a democratic dividend we owe every Nigerian. We intend to deliver it,” he said.
On the economy, the President said government revenues had improved, investor confidence was returning and non-oil exports recorded a 21 per cent increase last year.
He disclosed that more than 1,000 small and medium-scale enterprises had been certified for export, while the National Agricultural Development Fund was facilitating the deployment of 10,000 tractors over a five-year period.
Tinubu nevertheless admitted that many Nigerians were still grappling with economic hardship, assuring citizens that his administration remained focused on curbing inflation, boosting food production, creating jobs and improving living standards.
“We are moving from uncertainty to stability.
The next phase is about accelerating growth and ensuring the benefits are felt in every home, every community and every region.
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“We believe that democracy must be felt in the pocket,” the President said.
