Tinubu Vows Tougher Crackdown On Terror Financiers, Says 13,000 Terrorists Killed In One Year

President Bola Tinubu has issued a stern warning to bandits, kidnappers and financiers of terrorism across Nigeria, declaring that they must either surrender or face the full force of the country's security apparatus as his administration intensifies efforts to combat insecurity.

The President made the declaration on Friday during his national broadcast to mark Nigeria's 27th consecutive Democracy Day celebration and his fourth Democracy Day address since assuming office in 2023.

Tinubu said his government would not tolerate individuals and groups responsible for the killing, abduction and terrorisation of innocent Nigerians, stressing that the window for surrender would not remain open indefinitely.

"To bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror: Surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State," the President warned.

"These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. No mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians."

Highlighting gains recorded in the fight against terrorism, Tinubu disclosed that more than 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised within the past year, while terror-related deaths had dropped significantly.

"We have moved from training with our allies, the United States, France and other European countries, to precision targeting," he said.

"In Arege, Borno State, we degraded ISWAP's command centre. Terror-related deaths are down by 81 per cent since 2015. Over 13,000 terrorists have been neutralised in the past year."

The President noted that while military operations had intensified against terrorist groups, the government was also pursuing rehabilitation efforts for repentant fighters through non-kinetic measures.

According to him, more than 124,000 former fighters and their dependents have surrendered their weapons since 2023 under Operation Safe Corridor.

"Over 124,000 fighters and dependents have laid down their arms since 2023 through Operation Safe Corridor," he stated.

Tinubu further revealed that the Federal Government had committed N5.41 trillion to defence and security in the 2026 budget, describing it as the largest security allocation in the nation's history and a demonstration of the government's resolve to defeat terrorism.

He also announced the recruitment of over 50,000 police officers alongside thousands of military personnel to strengthen the country's security architecture and bridge the manpower gap within the security sector.

Despite the security gains, the President acknowledged that this year's Democracy Day celebration was overshadowed by the continued abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo and Borno states.

"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 a mirage," he said.

"That is why this administration declared a security emergency and approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 new police officers and thousands of military recruits."

Reaffirming his administration's commitment to securing lives and property, Tinubu assured Nigerians that additional measures would be taken where necessary.

"Our 2026 budget commits N5.41tn, our largest ever, to defence and security. Our administration is ever ready to do much more to secure our people," he added.

The President also called on Nigerians to remain united against criminal elements, warning against attempts to ethnicise or politicise insecurity.

"At a time like this, let us not assign blame or point fingers. Crime has no ethnicity," Tinubu said.

"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."

Beyond security, the President addressed challenges in the power sector, describing the electricity industry he inherited in 2023 as one plagued by generation shortfalls, poor transmission infrastructure, unreliable gas supply and a metering deficit exceeding four million households.

To address the situation, he said his administration enacted the Electricity Act to empower states to generate, transmit and distribute electricity independently, while authorising the Presidential Power Sector Task Force to raise a N4 trillion bond to clear verified legacy debts.

Tinubu also disclosed that the Rural Electrification Agency, with support from the World Bank and the African Development Bank, had expanded off-grid and mini-grid electricity projects to underserved communities, universities, hospitals and markets.

"Electricity is a democratic dividend we owe every Nigerian. We intend to deliver it," he declared.

On the economy, the President said federation revenues had increased, fiscal transparency had improved and investor confidence was returning across key sectors, including agriculture, energy, manufacturing, mining, technology and transportation.

He revealed that non-oil exports grew by 21 per cent in the past year, while more than 1,000 small and medium-scale enterprises had been certified for export. He added that the National Agricultural Development Fund was implementing a plan to deploy 10,000 tractors over the next five years.

However, Tinubu acknowledged that many Nigerians continued to face economic hardship and assured citizens that efforts were ongoing to tame inflation, boost food production, create jobs and improve living standards.

"Yet, many Nigerians still face economic hardship. We remain focused on reducing inflation, expanding food production, creating jobs, improving living standards, rebuilding confidence in our economy, and creating conditions for sustainable prosperity," he said.

"We are moving from uncertainty to stability. The next phase is about accelerating growth and ensuring the benefits are felt in every home, every community, and every region. We believe that Democracy must be felt in the pocket.”