President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a strong warning to terrorists, kidnappers, and those responsible for acts of insecurity, stating that they must surrender or face annihilation.
Tinubu declared that the government will show no leniency toward those who spill the blood of Nigerians.
In a live television address to mark the 2026 Democracy Day on Friday, the President said the government's offer to accept the repentance of troublemakers will not remain open forever.
Referring to the recent abduction of children and their teachers in Oyo and Borno states, Tinubu said the government still hopes they will be rescued and return home safely.
He stated that this is why his administration has declared a state of emergency on security matters and approved the recruitment of over 50,000 new police officers and thousands of soldiers to strengthen the fight against insecurity.
"The 2026 budget has allocated ₦5.41 trillion to defence and security, the highest in the nation’s history. Our administration is ready to do even more to protect the lives and property of citizens," Tinubu said.
He added that Nigeria has shifted from training with allies such as the United States, France, and other European nations to conducting precisely targeted strikes on terrorist hideouts.
Tinubu said that in the Arege region of Borno State, security forces have destroyed the command centre of the ISWAP group, noting that the number of people killed by terrorism has dropped by 81% since 2015.
According to him, over 13,000 terrorists have been killed in the past year, while more than 124,000 militants and their family members have surrendered their weapons since 2023 through the Operation Safe Corridor programme.
The President also called on Nigerians to remain united and avoid blaming any particular ethnic or religious group for acts of terrorism.
He expressed confidence that Nigeria will prevail in its fight against terrorism and continue to build a prosperous and peaceful nation.
Tinubu praised security forces, including the military, police, and intelligence agencies, for their dedication to protecting the nation.
"Nigeria salutes you for your sacrifices," he said.
He also thanked traditional rulers, religious and community leaders for their contributions to ensuring peace and reconciliation, stressing that the government alone cannot address security challenges without the cooperation of the people.