Tinubu warns sponsors of banditry, kidnapping, others to surrender

…Honours Etsu Nupe Abubakar, Babatope, Okpadokun, Dasuki,  Omatseye, Obiora, Odumakin, others 

…Says 13,000 terrorists neutralised,  124,000 dropped their arms since 2023. 

President Bola Tinubu has called on sponsors of banditry, kidnapping and other forms of terror to either surrender or be prepared to face the full force of the law.

Tinubu made the demand in his nationwide Democracy Day broadcast, urging them to ” surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State.”

The President warned that these windows of surrender will not remain open forever. Adding that no mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians.

He revealed that the country has moved from training with Nigeria’s security allies, the United States, France and other European countries, to precision targeting.

He announced that in Arege, Borno State, Security forces degraded ISWAP’s command centre.

According to Tinubu, ” 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.”

The President appealed to Nigerians to stop assigning blame or pointing fingers, adding that crime has no ethnicity, and urged Nigerians to unite against the criminals ravaging the country.

“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 noted that this year’s mood is dampened by the abduction of the children in Oyo and Borno, but assured that his government” remain hopeful for their safe return. Democracy without security is a mirage.

“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.

“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,” he said.

Speaking further on the June 12 sacrifices, President Tinubu listed Nigerians who suffered ill treatment during the struggle for national honours

They include Ayoka Lawani, Tunde Fagbenle, Oladele Alake, Olatunji Bello, Louis Odion, Segun Babatope, Sam Omatseye, Ademola Osinubi, Bola Bolawole, Lade Bonuola, Femi Kusa, Debo Adeniran, Ayo Opadokun, Osagie Obayuwana, Joe Okei-Odumakin, Barrister Titus Mann, Joe Igbokwe
Richard Akinnola, Ben Charles-Obi (Posthumous), George Mbah,  Niran Malaolu, Ishola Williams, Femi Aborisade, Jenkins Alumona, and Gbemiga Ogunleye.

Others include Ralph Obiora, Muyiwa Adekeye, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, Ike Okonta, Ose Osayande, Osa Director, Sylvester Odion-Akhaine, and Arthur Nwankwo, who received a Posthumous award

The President also listed some soldier-democrats of the June 12 struggle for recognition, including: Major General MA Garba, Brigadier General Yahaya Abubakar, the Current Etsu Nupe,  Brigadier General Lawal Jaafaru Isa and Col Umar Farouk Ahmed.

Others are Col Sambo Dasuki and Col Lawan Gwadabe; Brigadier Jonathan Ndam Temlong; Col Musa Shehu; Major General Chris Eze; Major General Harris Dzarma; Col Isa Jibrin;  Maj. General Joseph Oshanupin;  Col Olusegun Oloruntoba, Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom); Lieutenant Colonel Happy Kefas Bulus
Col J Okai; Col Emmanuel Ndubueze; and Lt Col Yakubu Muazu.