President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, in his Democracy Day broadcast, dared terrorists to vacate Nigerian territory or face the wrath of the law. The president issued a stark ultimatum to armed groups operating across the country, saying those who do not surrender will face “the full force of the Nigerian State.”

On the 27 years of uninterrupted civilian rule since 1999 in Nigeria, President Tinubu described the security warning as part of a broader appeal for national unity and democratic resilience.

He urged bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror to surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State, adding that the windows of surrender will not remain open forever.

The president said no mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians.

President Tinubu urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies and political parties to ensure peaceful voting, warning that “democracy fails when citizens doubt the process.”

Tinubu outlined a series of measures aimed at bolstering security, including the recruitment of more than 50,000 police officers and thousands of military recruits under the proclaimed security emergency.

He said the 2026 Federal Government budget, commits N5.41 trillion — the largest allocation in the country’s history — to defence and security.

The President highlighted recent counterterrorism gains, noting the degradation of an Islamic State West Africa Province command center in Borno State and claiming an 81 percent reduction in terror-related deaths since 2015.

President Tinubu acknowledged ongoing insecurity, referencing recent abductions in Oyo and Borno states.

He said Democracy without security is not solid enough, stressing that the administration remained prepared to do “much more to secure the people.”

The President also tied security efforts to economic policy, arguing that reforms since 2023 have restored investor confidence and that improved revenue collection would allow greater spending on infrastructure, social services and local governance.