For years, the sound of gunshots, ransom negotiations and desperate calls from families searching for missing loved ones have become an uncomfortable part of Nigeria’s reality. From the forests of the North-West to communities battling insurgency in the North-East, insecurity has remained one of the biggest tests facing the country.
But on Democracy Day 2026, President Bola Tinubu delivered a message directed at those behind Nigeria’s security crisis: the era of hiding may be coming to an end.
In a nationwide broadcast marking 27 years of uninterrupted democracy, the President issued a stern warning to bandits, kidnappers and sponsors of terrorism, telling them to either abandon their criminal activities or prepare to face the full strength of the Nigerian state.
Tinubu said the government would continue to provide an opportunity for fighters willing to surrender, but warned that the window would not remain open forever.
“To bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror: Surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State. These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. No mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians,” the President said.
From Negotiation To Military Pressure
Tinubu’s message comes at a time when insecurity remains one of the most emotional issues in Nigeria, with many citizens questioning whether government efforts are producing enough results.
In his address, however, the President argued that the country’s security forces have recorded major victories in recent years.
He said Nigeria’s military operations have evolved from depending mainly on foreign training support to carrying out targeted attacks against terrorist networks.
According to Tinubu, security forces recently degraded an ISWAP command centre in Arege, Borno State, as part of ongoing operations against insurgent groups.
He also claimed that terror-related deaths have dropped significantly since 2015, adding that more than 13,000 terrorists have been neutralised within the past year.
“We have moved from training with our allies, the United States, France and other European countries, to precision targeting,” Tinubu 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 Surrender Door Is Still Open
Beyond military action, Tinubu highlighted the government’s surrender programme, saying thousands of former fighters have abandoned violence through Operation Safe Corridor.
The President revealed that over 124,000 fighters and their dependents have surrendered since 2023.
The programme, originally designed to encourage repentant insurgents to leave armed groups, has remained controversial among Nigerians, with some questioning whether former fighters should be trusted while victims of attacks continue to demand justice.
Tinubu maintained that surrender remains an option for those willing to change their ways.
However, he warned that those who continue attacking innocent Nigerians would face consequences.
“Crime Has No Ethnicity”
While addressing the security situation, the President urged Nigerians not to turn criminal activities into ethnic battles.
He warned against blaming entire communities for the actions of criminals, saying insecurity should be treated as a national challenge.
“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.”
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His comments come amid growing debates across Nigeria over the identity of criminal groups, the role of local communities and the need for stronger intelligence gathering.
Nigerians Await Results Beyond Promises
For many Nigerians, however, the biggest question remains simple: when will ordinary citizens begin to feel safer?
Behind government statistics and military operations are families still waiting for kidnapped relatives to return home, farmers afraid to return to their lands, and communities hoping that the next security alert will not become another tragedy.
The President’s Democracy Day message paints a picture of a government determined to defeat insecurity, but the real test will be measured not only by the number of operations carried out but by whether Nigerians can once again travel, farm and live without fear.
As Tinubu declared victory over terror remains the goal, Nigerians will be watching closely to see if the warning to criminals becomes a turning point or another promise waiting for results.