President Bola Tinubu is upbeat about the safety of abducted students and teachers from Oyo and Borno states despite being in captivity for about three weeks.
Tinubu, during his address to the nation on the 2026 Democracy Day, said though the abductions have dampened the mood for this year’s celebration, there is hope for their return.
“Though this year’s mood is dampened by the abduction of our children in Oyo and Borno, we remain hopeful for their safe return. Democracy without security is not solid enough,” he said.’
Scores of students and teachers were abducted in their schools last month in Oyo and Borno, sparking national outrage and protests.
To address the rising wave of insecurity in Nigeria, President Tinubu said his government has, among other things, declared a security emergency and also approved “the recruitment of more than 50,000 new police officers and thousands of military recruits”.
“Our 2026 budget commits N5.41 trillion—our largest ever—to defence and security. Our administration is ever ready to do much more to secure our people,” the president said.
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According to him, the country is partnering with allies such as the US, France, and other European countries to address Nigeria’s security challenges.
He said these efforts have led to successes, such as the degradation of ISWAP’s command centre in Arege, Borno State.
“Terror-related deaths are down by 81% since 2015. Over 13,000 terrorists have been neutralised in the past year. But we also keep the door of surrender open. Over 124,000 fighters and dependents have laid down their arms since 2023 through Operation Safe Corridor,” he said.
President Tinubu asked criminals to embrace peace or face the “full force of the Nigerian State”.
“To bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror: Surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State,” the ex-Lagos State governor said, reminding them: “These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. No mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians.
“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,” Tinubu said.
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