President Bola Tinubu has issued a strong warning to terrorists, bandits and their sponsors, declaring that his administration will show no mercy to those behind the killing and kidnapping of innocent Nigerians.
Speaking during his national broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 27th consecutive Democracy Day celebration, Tinubu ordered armed groups to surrender or face what he described as the full force of the Nigerian state.
He also revealed that over 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised within the past year, as part of ongoing military operations across the country.
According to him, although terrorism-related deaths have reportedly dropped by 81 per cent since 2015, the celebration was overshadowed by the continued captivity of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo and Borno States.
“To bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror: Surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State,” he 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 said Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy has shifted from joint training with international partners such as the United States, France and other European countries to more precision-based military operations on the ground.
He cited recent operations, including the destruction of ISWAP’s command centre in Arege, Borno State, as evidence of progress in the fight against insurgency.
The President also stated that more than 124,000 fighters and their dependents have surrendered since 2023 under the Operation Safe Corridor programme, which supports rehabilitation and reintegration.
He added that the N5.41 trillion allocated to security in the 2026 budget reflects his administration’s commitment to ending the long-running wave of terrorism that has affected the country since 2009.
