Enough is enough, your time is up – Tinubu tells terrorists, bandits
…Sahel is still a huge killing field despite successful govt efforts – General Abubakar
By Our Correspondents
President Bola Tinubu has issued a stern warning to terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers, declaring that their time is over.
Speaking at the inaugural News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) International Lecture in Abuja, Tinubu called for an end to the violence that has plagued the nation, emphasising that security agencies will take decisive action against criminal elements.
Tinubu, represented by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, stated, “Enough is enough. This has to stop. And it will stop,” highlighting that in the past year, over 300 Boko Haram commanders have been eliminated. He reassured Nigerians that incidents of kidnapping for ransom are on the decline.
The president urged those engaged in violence to surrender, saying, “Our windows are open, our doors are open if you are ready to come and surrender and stop.”
He emphasised the government’s commitment to both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to combat insecurity.
Tinubu’s administration has adopted a multifaceted approach as enshrined in the Renewed Hope Agenda which prioritised security as a critical component of government focus.
According to him, his administration, in the last year, has put in place processes, policies and programs to achieve improved security, economic development, and improved welfare for all Nigerians.
He said, “In particular, our six key security objectives have included strengthening institutions and promoting accountability to address the root causes of insecurity as well as investing in job creation, infrastructure development, and social services to reduce poverty and inequality.
“We are happy with what the Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa did, he visited Niger and hopefully things are beginning to look better with our brother and we will even do more. We want peace, we want security. We are not enemies with anybody.
“I am happy that we renewed the onslaught by our gallant troops against enemies of our nation in the Northeast and North West. Our citizens can now heave a sigh of relief.
“We shall continue to provide our armed forces with the needed human and material resources to achieve success. No doubt there is no time other than now for all of us to work together to build a safer and more prosperous Nigeria,” he said.
Tinubu outlined the administration’s multifaceted approach to security as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on institutional strengthening, job creation, and poverty reduction.
“We are committed to working with countries in the Sahel to tackle the root causes of insecurity,” he noted, calling for enhanced regional collaboration.
Also, Former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who chaired the event, echoed concerns about the Sahel region’s instability.
He cited poverty, unemployment, and governance issues as key drivers of violence. “This region is still a huge killing field despite the best efforts of successive governments,” he said.
According to him, “In the year 2020, a whopping 4,660 people were killed in this region, while another 2,600 civilians lost their lives in banditry attacks in 2021.
“Today, Your Excellencies, this region is still one huge killing field, despite the best efforts of successive governments there.”
Abubakar noted that at the heart of the insecurity in the Sahel region were the undercurrents of poverty, unemployment, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, weak governance, and institutional failures, as well as climate change and environmental degradation.
He said these factors have created a fertile ground for insecurity to thrive, with devastating impacts on our dear nation.
“We must not, however, lose faith in our capacity to ride above the storms of insecurity, since this challenge is the business of every Nigerian, and indeed, all Africans,” Abubakar said.
In the same vein, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris reiterated the administration’s commitment to improving security through better resources and intelligence, addressing the spillover effects of conflicts from neighbouring Sahelian countries.
According to him, “Nigeria shares a long and porous border with several Sahelian countries caught up in conflict, making us vulnerable to the spillover effects of the conflict. This not only threatens our security but also challenges our capacity to maintain effective control over our borders.”
