Democracy Day: Tinubu Gives Terror Sponsors, Bandits Final Opportunity To Surrender Before Major Crackdown

President Bola Tinubu has issued a stern warning to bandits, kidnappers, and financiers of terrorism, urging them to surrender or face decisive action from the Nigerian government.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The President delivered the message on Friday during his nationwide Democracy Day address, which marked 27 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in Nigeria.

Tinubu highlighted the gains recorded in the country’s counterterrorism efforts, noting that security agencies have transitioned from receiving training support from international partners to carrying out precision operations against terrorist groups.

According to the President, Nigerian forces recently dismantled an ISWAP command centre in Arege, Borno State, as part of ongoing military operations against insurgents.

He also revealed that terrorism-related fatalities have dropped significantly over the years, citing an 81 percent decline since 2015. Tinubu added that more than 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised within the last year.

“We have moved from training with our allies, including the United States, France, and other European countries, to precision targeting. In Arege, Borno State, we degraded an ISWAP command centre. Terror-related deaths have fallen by 81 percent since 2015, while over 13,000 terrorists have been neutralised in the past year,” he said.

Despite the intensified military campaign, Tinubu maintained that the government remains open to accepting the surrender of insurgents willing to abandon violence.

He disclosed that through Operation Safe Corridor, over 124,000 former fighters and their dependents have surrendered since 2023.

The President stressed that the opportunity for surrender would not remain available indefinitely.

“To bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terrorism: surrender now or face the full force of the Nigerian State. These opportunities for surrender will not remain open forever. No mercy will be shown to those who profit from the bloodshed of innocent Nigerians,” he declared.

Tinubu also appealed to citizens to remain united and refrain from associating criminal activities with any ethnic group.

“At a time like this, we must resist the temptation to blame one another. Crime has no ethnicity. We must stand together and remain confident that the enemies of our nation will soon be defeated. We will overcome terrorism and continue building a safer and more prosperous Nigeria,” the President added.