Tinubu Declares Tougher Stance on Terrorists, Bandits in Democracy Day Address

By Endurance Ikanone

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity across Nigeria, declaring that terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and their sponsors must either surrender or face the full force of the law.

In his Democracy Day address on Friday, June 12, 2026, President Tinubu said security remains a top priority of his administration, stressing that democracy cannot thrive without the protection of lives and property.

The President noted that although this year’s Democracy Day celebration was overshadowed by the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states, the government remains hopeful of securing their safe return.

“Democracy without security is not solid enough,” Tinubu stated, adding that his administration had declared a security emergency and approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 additional police officers alongside thousands of military recruits to strengthen national security.

To support ongoing security operations, the President disclosed that the 2026 national budget earmarked N5.41 trillion for defence and security the highest allocation ever made to the sector in Nigeria’s history.

Highlighting achievements recorded in the fight against terrorism, Tinubu said Nigerian security forces had shifted from conventional military training with international partners, including the United States and France, to precision targeted operations against criminal elements.

According to him, troops recently degraded an ISWAP command centre in Arege, Borno State, while terror related deaths across the country have declined by 81 per cent since 2015.

The President further revealed that over 13,000 terrorists were neutralised within the past year, describing the development as evidence of the growing effectiveness of military and intelligence operations.

He also pointed to the success of the Federal Government’s deradicalisation and reintegration programme, Operation Safe Corridor, noting that more than 124,000 former fighters and their dependents had surrendered their weapons since 2023.

While reiterating that the government remains open to accepting genuine surrenders, Tinubu warned that the opportunity 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 declared.

The President urged Nigerians not to politicise insecurity or attribute criminality to any ethnic group, insisting that crime has no ethnicity and that national unity remains essential in defeating terrorism and violent crimes.

He commended members of the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, intelligence agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders for their contributions to maintaining peace and supporting security efforts nationwide.

Tinubu expressed confidence that Nigeria would ultimately overcome its security challenges, assuring citizens that the government would continue investing in personnel, equipment, intelligence gathering, and strategic partnerships to safeguard the country.

“The enemies of our nation shall soon be history. We will triumph over terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation,” he said.