Your days are numbered, says FG as bandits dare Tinubu, ECOWAS 5,000-man force

President Bola Tinubu’s stern warning and the unleashing of a 5,000-man force seem not to cut ice on the terrorists, who said they were prepared to die.

Tinubu had warned the terrorists, bandits and other non-state actors to surrender to government forces or face death.

Wanted bandit leader, Bello Turji, dared Nigerian security forces, saying he is not afraid of being killed by them.

Tinubu, who noted that his administration has had enough of the activities of bandits, terrorists and other non-state actors, said he put in place both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to eliminate the criminal elements tormenting the country.

The president spoke, yesterday, in Abuja at the inaugural international lecture on insecurity in the Sahel organised by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Represented by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, the President said the days of the criminal elements were numbered, if they fail to surrender.

He said, “Cowards, idiots, bandits, kidnappers for ransom, violent extremists and bad people, I can assure you, we are here to confront you. Enough is enough. For 15 years, we have been going through hell in this country. These bad people have been doing what they like. They continue to interfere with how we live, interfere with our commerce, education, health system and transportation. Enough is enough. It has to stop. It will stop.

“It’s a warning to them. Time is running out. If you want to live, end it now. Examples have been made. They have seen what’s happening to their leaders. The non-kinetic approach is still important.”

According to him, windows are still open for grace.

He added, “Today, kidnapping is an economic crime. It has replaced armed robbery, bank robbery and housebreaking. And you see them—stupid, cowardly people—taking others and hiding them, then asking for money. We will find you.

“We defeated armed robbery in this country. We will also defeat kidnappers. It is a matter of time. We are just one year and three months or four months old. Give us time.”

Tinubu also warned corrupt officials to be cautious, threatening to deal with them.

He said, “We have taken steps to improve governance through strengthening institutions, promoting accountability and ensuring inclusive decision-making. Even those who corrupt people, be careful. It will come for you. It is coming.”

Stating that his administration was committed to uplifting the downtrodden from the shackles of poverty, the President added that he would continue to invest in job creation, infrastructure development and social services.

TURJI, one of the 43 terrorists the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) declared wanted, in five minutes and 40 seconds video, said, “Sadists, who claimed that we are about to be killed, we are very sure that we are not in the world to stay for eternity. We are always ready to be killed. Killings did not start today; people were being killed from the era of past prophets. We are not afraid to die; we are not afraid of bombs.

“But you have not yet understood our message. People of Zamfara, when you stop killing our kinsmen, we will allow yours to live.”

He also denied the allegation that bandits in the North West were sponsored by former governors of Zamfara, pointing to God as their sponsor.

“It was during the administration of Yerima that the government sold out the grazing reserve and legalised the killing of the Fulani”.

When Mahmud Shinkafi came on board, he tried unsuccessfully to address the problem. Abdulaziz Yari came and empowered the vigilantes, but we are still struggling,” he said, calling on the people of Zamfara to collaborate with them for peace to reign and stop the bloodbath in the state.

ECOWAS Heads of State and Government are planning to institute a 5,000-man kinetic force to tackle terrorism in the region.

The regional bloc also disclosed that
1,605 terrorist attacks had been recorded between January and August 2024 in West Africa, with a total of 6,956 fatalities.

President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, disclosed this, yesterday, in Abuja at the international lecture organised by NAN.

Touray, who was represented by the Programme Officer, Regional Security Division, Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, ECOWAS Commission, Isaac Armstrong, said Burkina Faso accounted for 611 attacks and 3,810 fatalities; Mali 546 with 1424 attacks, Nigeria 238 attacks with 905 fatalities, Niger 153 attacks with 676 fatalities; Benin 44 attacks with 66 fatalities and Togo 13 attacks with 75 fatalities.

He said, “On the directives of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, efforts are ongoing to set up a 5,000-man Kinetic Force to fight against terrorism using the platform of the ECOWAS Standby. This regional resolve does not take away the responsibility bestowed on individual member states in taking full ownership of their national security responsibilities.”