President Bola Tinubu has issued a stern warning to terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements, stating that their time is up and urging them to surrender or face the consequences.
Tinubu delivered the warning at the inaugural News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) International Lecture on Thursday, October 3, themed “Interrogating the Root Cause of Violence in the Sahel, and Its Impact on Nigeria’s Territorial Integrity.”
Represented by National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria has endured severe hardship at the hands of criminals.
He said, “Enough is enough. This has to stop. And it will stop. In the last one year, no fewer than 300 Boko Haram commanders have been eliminated while cases of kidnapping for ransom are on the decline. This is a warning to them. They have limited time. Examples have been set. They have seen what is happening to their own leaders, if they refuse to surrender, the same fate awaits them.”
While warning of intensified actions by security forces, the president also emphasized the importance of non-violent solutions.
“The non-kinetic approach is still important. Our windows are open, our doors are open if you are ready to come and surrender and stop, otherwise, you know what is going to happen to you, whoever you are,” Tinubu stated.
He outlined his administration’s multifaceted approach to security challenges as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes security alongside economic development and welfare improvement.
“We have developed both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies in considerably eliminating the threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and violent extremists,” Tinubu said.
The president also pledged to work with neighboring countries to address regional insecurity, noting that Nigeria’s collaboration with the Sahel region and ECOWAS is key to tackling violence.
“As a chair of our regional bloc ECOWAS, we are strengthening regional collaboration with neighboring countries to share intelligence, coordinate security efforts, and address common challenges,” Tinubu said.
Former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who chaired the event, highlighted the regional nature of Nigeria’s security challenges. He lamented the ongoing violence in the Sahel region, noting that thousands have been killed in recent years.
“Today, this region is still one huge killing field, despite the best efforts of successive governments there,” Abubakar said.
He identified poverty, unemployment, weak governance, and climate change as factors driving insecurity in the Sahel, with significant spillover effects on Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling insecurity. He warned that the instability in the Sahel threatens Nigeria’s security and economy due to its porous borders with the region.
“The spillover effect of these conflicts is taking its toll on our economy, internal security, and the socio-economic well-being of our people,” Idris said.
The lecture served as a platform to discuss the ongoing insecurity in Nigeria and the Sahel region and to reaffirm the government’s commitment to addressing these challenges through enhanced security measures and regional cooperation.