President Bola Tinubu says the abduction of 88 schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo and Borno states has dampened the mood of Nigeria's 2026 Democracy Day celebrations.
In his Democracy Day address on Friday, Tinubu said the government remains hopeful for the safe return of the captives, who've now spent 27 days with their abductors.
"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 isn't solid enough," Tinubu said.
Suspected Boko Haram terrorists invaded four schools in the two states and kidnapped 88 students and teachers. The attacks were carried out separately, and there's no indication they were coordinated or by the same group.
The president used the occasion to signal a tougher stance against terrorism and kidnapping. He warned insurgents, bandits and their sponsors that the window to surrender is narrowing.
"To bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror: Surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State. These windows of surrender won't remain open forever. No mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians," he declared.
Tinubu said his administration had declared a security emergency and approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 additional police officers alongside thousands of military recruits to strengthen the country's security architecture.
He added that the 2026 budget earmarks a record N5.41 trillion for defence and security. He described it as the largest allocation ever made to the sector.
Highlighting ongoing counterterrorism efforts, the president said Nigerian forces had transitioned from training with international allies, including the United States, to conducting precision operations against terrorist groups. He cited the degradation of an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) command centre in Arege, Borno State, and said more than 13,000 terrorists had been killed over the past year.
According to Tinubu, terror-related deaths have declined by 81 per cent since 2015, while more than 124,000 fighters and their dependents have surrendered through Operation Safe Corridor since 2023. These figures were first made public by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu in 2025 during an APC summit marking Tinubu's two-year anniversary.
The president also stressed that those who continue to perpetrate violence would face decisive military action.
He commended members of the armed forces, the Nigeria Police Force and intelligence agencies for their sacrifices. He also acknowledged the role of traditional rulers, religious leaders and community heads in promoting peace and reconciliation.
Calling for national unity against insecurity, Tinubu urged Nigerians not to politicise or ethnicise crime.
"Crime has no ethnicity," he 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."