President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a strong warning to terrorist groups, bandits and kidnappers, declaring that they must surrender immediately or face the full force of the Nigerian state.
The President made the assertion in his 2026 Democracy Day speech.
Tinubu said his administration has declared a security emergency across the country, alongside plans to recruit over 50,000 police officers and expand military manpower to strengthen ongoing operations against violent groups.
He also noted a proposed N5.41 trillion allocation to defence and security in the 2026 budget, describing it as the largest in Nigeria’s recent history and a necessary response to evolving threats.
According to him, military operations have recorded notable gains, including the disruption of terrorist command structures in parts of the North-East.
He claimed terror-related deaths have reduced significantly, while thousands of fighters have been neutralised in the past year.
Tinubu further stated that more than 124,000 insurgents and their dependents have surrendered since 2023 under Operation Safe Corridor, a rehabilitation programme designed to reintegrate former combatants into society.
Despite these figures, the President maintained that the fight is ongoing and warned that there would be no tolerance for continued violence.
“To bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror: surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State,” he said, adding that any opportunity for voluntary surrender would not remain open indefinitely.
He urged Nigerians to remain united in the face of insecurity, cautioning against ethnic blame or division, and reaffirmed that national cohesion remains critical to defeating criminal networks.