Crime Has No Ethnicity, Let Us Not Assign Blame Or Point Fingers — Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians to avoid ethnic profiling and blame games in the fight against insecurity, insisting that crime has no ethnicity and national unity is essential to defeating terrorism and criminality.

He made the remarks during his Democracy Day address, where he also highlighted what he described as significant progress in Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations and security reforms.

Tinubu said the country’s military operations have evolved from basic joint training exercises with international partners such as the United States, France, and other European countries to more advanced precision-based targeting of terrorist networks.

According to him, Nigerian security forces recently achieved a breakthrough in Arege, Borno State, where the command structure of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) was degraded as part of ongoing operations against insurgent groups.

The President also provided figures on the progress of the security campaign, stating that terror-related deaths have dropped by 81 per cent since 2015. He further claimed that more than 13,000 terrorists have been neutralised in the past year alone.

Tinubu added that the government’s rehabilitation and reintegration programme for repentant fighters has recorded major success, with over 124,000 insurgents and their dependents surrendering since 2023 under Operation Safe Corridor.

Despite these developments, he warned that the window for voluntary surrender remains open only temporarily, stressing that those who refuse to lay down their arms will face decisive military action.

“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.

Tinubu urged citizens to remain united in the face of security challenges, cautioning against narratives that could divide the country along ethnic or religious lines.

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

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening national security, improving intelligence-driven operations, and ensuring lasting peace and stability across Nigeria.

The President said ongoing reforms and security strategies would continue alongside efforts to rebuild communities affected by violence and support the reintegration of former combatants into society.