ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu used his 2026 Democracy Day address to call for national unity in the face of rising insecurity, emphasizing that "crime has no ethnicity." His remarks come as the government intensifies its response to recent abductions in Oyo and Borno states.
The Government’s Security Strategy
President Tinubu described the current security climate as a "mirage" for democracy, reinforcing the necessity of his administration's "security emergency." Key government initiatives highlighted in his speech include:
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Mass Recruitment: Approval for the addition of 50,000 new police officers and thousands of military personnel.
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Record Funding: The 2026 budget commits ₦5.41 trillion to defense and security, the largest allocation in the nation's history.
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Operational Successes: The President reported that terror-related deaths have decreased by 81% since 2015. Over the past year, 13,000 terrorists have been neutralized, while 124,000 fighters and their dependents have surrendered through Operation Safe Corridor since 2023.
President Tinubu issued a final warning to criminal syndicates and their sponsors: “Surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State. These windows of surrender will not remain open forever.”
A Call to De-ethnicize Crime
The President cautioned against the tendency to assign blame along ethnic lines, stating, “Crime has no ethnicity. We must stand united and be assured that the enemies of our nation shall soon be history.”
This sentiment was echoed by Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). Obi warned that the stereotyping of ethnic groups specifically citing the unfair judgment of ordinary Fulani individuals based on the actions of criminal elements poses a direct threat to national cohesion. Obi argued that criminality must be treated as an individual offense, rather than a reflection of an entire community’s identity.
Read What Peter Obi Said
Moving Forward
The leaders’ appeals come at a critical time for the nation’s democratic stability. President Tinubu encouraged Nigerians to reject division and cynicism, urging citizens to unite under a common purpose. By focusing on justice, accountable governance, and inclusive opportunity, the administration aims to ensure that the sacrifices of Nigeria’s past heroes remain the foundation for a more prosperous future.
