President Bola Tinubu has issued a stern warning to terrorists and bandits troubling Nigerians, urging them to surrender to government forces or face lethal consequences in battle. Represented by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu at the News Agency of Nigeria’s inaugural international lecture, Tinubu emphasized that his administration has had enough of the activities of bandits, terrorists, and other non-state actors.
“Cowards, idiots, bandits, kidnapping for ransom, and violent extremists—bad people. I can assure you, we are here to confront you. Enough is enough. For 15 years we’ve been going through hell in this country,” Tinubu said, warning them to either drop their arms or be killed.
The President also vowed to eradicate kidnapping for ransom, which has become prevalent in the country. “Today, kidnapping is an economic crime. It has replaced armed robbery, bank robbery, and housebreaking. We will find you. We defeated armed robbery before in this country. We will also defeat kidnappers,” he assured.
Tinubu also warned corrupt officials to be cautious, threatening to deal with them. “We have taken steps to improve governance through strengthening institutions, promoting accountability, and ensuring inclusive decision-making. Even those who corrupt people, be careful. It will come for you. It’s coming.”
Former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar attributed insecurity, particularly in the North, to poverty, unemployment, institutional failures, and other factors. He urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the fight against insecurity, emphasizing that combating insecurity is everyone’s responsibility.
Minister of Information Mohammed Idris noted that Nigeria’s shared borders with conflict-affected Sahelian countries pose security challenges. However, he stated that the country is winning the war against insecurity, with 12 aircraft acquired to boost the military’s capacity.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, highlighted the Sahel region’s instability, violence, and insecurity, tracing its roots to poor governance, economic marginalization, climate change, and ethnic tensions.
