Crime is not tied to ethnicity; we should avoid blame and finger‑pointing — Tinubu

ABUJA — In a speech on national security delivered during his Democracy Day address, President Bola Tinubu cautioned Nigerians against ethnic profiling and blame games in the fight against insecurity, stating that crime does not belong to any particular ethnicity and that unity is essential to defeat terrorism and criminality.

Addressing the nation’s security posture, Tinubu highlighted a shift in Nigeria’s military operations from joint training exercises with allies such as the United States, France and other European countries to precision‑based targeting of terrorist networks.

He reported that security forces had successfully degraded the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) command structure in Arege, Borno State, as part of ongoing counter‑terrorism operations.

According to the President, terror‑related deaths in the country have fallen by 81 percent since 2015, and more than 13,000 terrorists were neutralised in the past year alone.

Tinubu also noted significant progress in the government’s surrender and rehabilitation program, adding that over 124,000 fighters and their dependents have laid down arms since 2023 under Operation Safe Corridor.

Despite these gains, the Federal Government remains open to surrender, though Tinubu warned that the window would not stay open indefinitely.

“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 said.

The President urged Nigerians to stay united and avoid divisions, emphasizing that criminality should not be linked to any ethnic group.

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

Tinubu expressed confidence that continued security operations, coupled with national unity, would ultimately defeat terrorism and restore lasting peace across the country.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a safer and more prosperous nation, stating that Nigeria will keep strengthening its security architecture while pursuing peace‑building and reintegration efforts for repentant fighters.

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