... "Democracy without security is not solid enough”
ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration's commitment to securing Nigeria, declaring that terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and their sponsors must either surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian state.
In his Democracy Day address on Friday, the President said security remains a top priority of his government, especially amid concerns over recent kidnappings and violent attacks in parts of the country.
Describing the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states as a tragic development that has dampened the national mood, Tinubu stressed that democracy cannot thrive without security.
“Democracy without security is not solid enough,” he said, noting that his administration had declared a security emergency and approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 new police officers alongside thousands of military recruits to strengthen the nation's security architecture.
The President disclosed that the 2026 national budget allocated N5.41 trillion to defence and security—the highest security allocation in Nigeria’s history—as part of efforts to equip security agencies and enhance operational effectiveness.
Tinubu highlighted significant gains recorded in the fight against terrorism and insurgency, citing the military’s transition from conventional training exercises with international partners to precision-targeted operations against terrorist networks.
According to him, security forces successfully degraded a major command centre of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Arege, Borno State, while terror-related deaths have declined by 81 per cent since 2015.
He further revealed that more than 13,000 terrorists were neutralised within the past year, attributing the successes to the efforts of the Armed Forces, intelligence agencies and other security institutions.
The President also pointed to the achievements of Operation Safe Corridor, noting that over 124,000 fighters and their dependants had surrendered and laid down their arms since 2023 under the government's deradicalisation and reintegration programme.
While maintaining that the government remains open to accepting genuine surrenders, Tinubu issued a stern warning to criminal elements.
“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.
The President commended members of the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force and intelligence agencies for their sacrifices in defending the nation, describing them as critical pillars of national stability and democratic governance.
He also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders and community stakeholders to continue supporting peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts, stressing that government alone cannot win the fight against insecurity.
Urging Nigerians to remain united against criminality, Tinubu cautioned against ethnicising crime and insecurity.
“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 said.
The President expressed confidence that Nigeria would ultimately overcome its security challenges and continue its march toward national prosperity and democratic consolidation.
