ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu has announced plans to recruit more than 50,000 new police officers and thousands of military personnel as part of measures to strengthen security across the country, while expressing hope for the safe return of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo and Borno states.
Speaking in his Democracy Day address, Tinubu acknowledged that the celebration was overshadowed by recent cases of abduction involving schoolchildren but assured Nigerians that efforts were ongoing to secure their release.
“Though this year’s mood is dampened by the abduction of our children in Oyo and Borno, we remain hopeful for their safe return,” the President said.
Tinubu stressed that security remains fundamental to democratic governance, noting that democracy cannot flourish in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.
“Democracy without security is not solid enough,” he stated.
The President said his administration had declared a security emergency and taken decisive steps to reinforce the country’s security architecture.
According to him, the Federal Government has approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 police officers and thousands of military recruits to boost security operations nationwide.
He also disclosed that the 2026 budget earmarked N5.41 trillion for defence and security, describing it as the largest allocation ever made to the sector in Nigeria’s history.
“Our administration is ever ready to do much more to secure our people,” Tinubu said.
The President used the occasion to issue a strong warning to bandits, kidnappers and sponsors of terrorism, urging them to surrender or face the full weight of the law.
“To bandits, kidnappers, 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 declared.
Tinubu also called on Nigerians to remain united in the fight against crime and insecurity, warning against attempts to ethnicise criminal activities.
“At a time like this, let us not assign blame or point fingers. Crime has no ethnicity. We must stand united and be assured that the enemies of our nation shall soon be history,” he said.
Expressing optimism about the country’s future, the President said his administration remained committed to defeating terrorism and creating a safer and more prosperous nation.
“We will triumph over terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation,” Tinubu added.
