‘Surrender Now or Face Full Force of the State,’ Tinubu Tells Bandits, Kidnappers

President Bola Tinubu has issued a strong warning to bandits, kidnappers and sponsors of terrorism, declaring that those who continue to threaten Nigeria’s peace and security will face the full force of the law.

In his Democracy Day nationwide broadcast on Friday, the President said the opportunity for criminals to surrender would not remain open indefinitely.

“To bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror: Surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State,” Tinubu said.

“These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. No mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians.”

The President also cautioned Nigerians against ethnic profiling and politicising insecurity, stressing that criminality should not be associated with any particular ethnic group.

“At a time like this, let us not assign blame or point fingers. Crime has no ethnicity,” he stated.

Tinubu urged citizens to remain united in confronting insecurity and expressed confidence that terrorism and banditry would eventually be defeated.

“We must stand united and be assured that the enemies of our nation shall soon be history,” he said.

“We will triumph over terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation.”

Reflecting on Nigeria’s progress, the President said each generation has a responsibility to advance the nation’s development.

“Every generation has a defining responsibility. The generation of our founding fathers secured independence, the generation of June 12 secured democracy. Our generation must secure prosperity,” he said.

He called on Nigerians to reject division, cynicism and despair while embracing unity, hope and confidence.

“Let us move forward together—rejecting division, cynicism, and despair; embracing unity, hope, and confidence.

“Let us build a Nigeria united by a common purpose, strengthened by diversity, where justice is accessible, liberty is secure, and opportunity is abundant.”