Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has vowed to protect democracy in Nigeria, declaring that no mercy will be shown to terror purveyors who enable the killing and kidnapping of innocent Nigerians.
In his nationwide broadcast to Nigerians to mark the Democracy Day (June 12) on Friday, President Tinubu issued an ultimatum to bandits, kidnappers and sponsors of terrorism to surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian state.
Disclosing that his administration had already neutralised over 13,000 terrorists in the past year alone, Tinubu described the National Assembly, judiciary, press and civil society organisations as the guardrails of Nigeria’s democracy.
Tinubu acknowledged that the country’s democracy is not perfect, but insisted that it belongs to Nigerians and must be protected.
He said that every great nation was built by those who remained committed to solve problems rather than those who abandon the country.
He expressed appreciation to members of the armed forces and intelligence services for their sacrifices in protecting the nation, while also thanking traditional rulers, religious leaders and community heads for their contributions to peace and reconciliation efforts.
According to Tinubu, June 12 remains a day to honour the resilience of Nigerians who refused to surrender their belief in freedom and the courage of citizens who stood firm against intimidation.
He also paid tribute to patriots. who endured persecution, imprisonment and exile, noting that their sacrifices helped future generations to enjoy democracy.
The Nigerian leader commended labour leaders, journalists, activists, women, students and political leaders for their contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey.
He noted, however, that this year’s Democracy Day celebration came amid concerns over insecurity, particularly the abductions in Oyo and Borno states and expressed hope that those kidnapped would return safely to their families.
Tinubu stated that democracy cannot thrive without security, adding that his administration is pursuing both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to restore peace across the country.
He disclosed that approval had been given for the recruitment of 50,000 additional police officers, while the 2026 budget allocated N5.41 trillion to defence and security.
The President disclosed that terrorism-related incidents has reduced by 81 per cent since 2015 and that more than 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised within the last year.
He also highlighted the role of Operation Safe Corridor in rehabilitating former insurgents, saying that every life transformed from an enemy into a citizen represents a victory for democracy.
Tinubu warned the bandits and criminal elements to surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian state, adding that the opportunity for surrender would not remain open indefinitely.
He called for national unity in the face of the security challenge, rejecting ethnic or religious framing of criminality and urging Nigerians to do the same.
“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.
“We will triumph over terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation,” he declared.
On the intermittent power crisis of the past three years, Tinubu explained the scale of the challenge he inherited and his response so far.
He said by 2023, the sector was “characterised by chronic generation shortfalls, an unreliable gas supply, and transmission infrastructure so fragile that it could not evacuate available power. Distribution companies were burdened by massive losses and a metering deficit of over four million.
“The result was a sector that generated less than the 13,500 megawatts installed capacity, a sector that transmitted less than it generated, distributed less than it transmitted, and collected revenue far below what it needed to sustain itself,” he added.
GIK/APA