Tinubu says school abductions spoil Democracy Day celebrations

President Bola Tinubu on Friday said the recent kidnappings of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states have overshadowed Nigeria’s 2026 Democracy Day celebrations. He stated that his government would show “no mercy” to terrorists, kidnappers, and other violent criminals.

In his Democracy Day speech, the president said the nation’s mood has been affected by the kidnapping of the children and their teachers. He assured Nigerians that the government is hopeful about securing their safe return.

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked four schools in Borno and Oyo states, taking 88 students and teachers. The attacks in these two states happened separately, and there is no sign that they were done by the same group or were coordinated. The captives have been with their abductors for 27 days while the government explores all possible ways to secure their release.

“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 is not solid enough,” Mr Tinubu said.

The president used this opportunity to show a tougher approach to terrorism and kidnapping. He warned that insurgents, bandits, and their sponsors now have a limited chance to surrender.

“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,” he declared.

Mr Tinubu said his government has declared a security emergency and approved the hiring of over 50,000 more police officers along with thousands of military recruits to boost the nation’s security.

He mentioned that the 2026 budget sets aside a record N5.41 trillion for defence and security, calling it the largest allocation ever made to this area.

Talking about ongoing counterterrorism efforts, the president said Nigerian forces have moved from training with international partners, including the United States, to carrying out precise operations against terrorist groups. He pointed out the destruction of an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) command centre in Arege, Borno State, stating that over 13,000 terrorists have been killed in the past year.

According to Mr Tinubu, deaths related to terror have decreased by 81 per cent since 2015. He added that more than 124,000 fighters and their dependents have surrendered through Operation Safe Corridor since 2023. PREMIUM TIMES reports that these figures were first made public by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, in 2025 during a national summit of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to celebrate the two-year anniversary of Mr Tinubu’s administration. Since then, officials have kept referring to this data.

The president also emphasized that those who continue to commit violence will face strong military action.

He praised members of the armed forces, the Nigeria Police Force, and intelligence agencies for their sacrifices in safeguarding the country. He also recognized the role of traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community heads in promoting peace and reconciliation.

Calling for national unity against insecurity, Mr Tinubu urged Nigerians not to politicize or ethnicize 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.”