Surrender or face action, Tinubu warns bandits, terrorists

President Bola Tinubu has issued a stern warning to bandits, kidnappers and other armed groups, ordering them to surrender to authorities or face the full force of the Nigerian state.

In his 2026 Democracy Day address marking June 12 on Friday, the President said the government would no longer tolerate violence against citizens, stressing that the window for voluntary surrender would not remain open indefinitely.

“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,” Tinubu said.

The President noted that the administration has intensified military operations against terrorist groups, including precision targeting backed by international partnerships. He said over 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised in the past year, while more than 124,000 fighters and their dependents have surrendered since 2023 under Operation Safe Corridor.

Tinubu stressed that insecurity remains a national challenge but insisted that his administration is making significant gains through sustained military pressure and expanded security investments, including a declared security emergency and increased recruitment into the armed forces and police.

He urged national unity in the fight against insecurity, warning against ethnic or political divisions in addressing crime.

At the same time, the President maintained that Nigeria would continue to combine military action with rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for those willing to abandon violence, but insisted that criminals who refuse surrender would be decisively dealt with.