Abuja: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared on Friday that terror-related deaths in Nigeria have fallen by 81% since 2015 — citing the figure as evidence of significant security progress even as his Democracy Day address was shadowed by fresh abductions of children in two states.
In his June 12 Democracy Day speech , Tinubu also disclosed that over 13,000 terrorists have been neutralised in the past year alone — and that more than 124,000 fighters and dependents have surrendered through Operation Safe Corridor since 2023.
“Terror-related deaths are down by 81% since 2015. Over 13,000 terrorists have been neutralised in the past year,” the President said. “But we also keep the door of surrender open. Over 124,000 fighters and dependents have laid down their arms since 2023 through Operation Safe Corridor.”
From Training to Precision Targeting
Tinubu described a significant upgrade in Nigeria’s military operational capability — moving from training exercises with allies to active precision targeting operations.
“We have moved from training with our allies, the United States, France and other European countries, to precision targeting,” he said.
He cited the degrading of ISWAP’s command centre in Arege, Borno State, as a specific operational achievement of the current security strategy.
The address confirmed a direct Nigerian-American military collaboration framework — a reference to the December 25, 2025, drone strikes in Sokoto State, in which US Africa Command conducted precision strikes in coordination with Nigerian authorities.
The N5.41 Trillion Security Budget
Nigeria’s 2026 defence and security budget stands at N5.41 trillion — described by the President as the largest ever committed to the sector.
The budget reflects a security emergency declaration by the administration and follows the recruitment of more than 50,000 new police officers and thousands of military recruits.
“Our 2026 budget commits N5.41 trillion — our largest ever — to defence and security. Our administration is ever ready to do much more to secure our people,” Tinubu said.
The Shadow Over the Celebration
Despite the statistics, the mood of Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebrations was visibly darkened by the abduction of children in Oyo and Borno States — incidents that brought the persistent insecurity challenge into sharp relief on a day meant to celebrate freedom.
“Though this year’s mood is dampened by the abduction of our children in Oyo and Borno, we remain hopeful for their safe return,” Tinubu said. “Democracy without security is not solid enough.”
The President’s warning to criminal actors was unambiguous: “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.”