President Bola Tinubu delivered a pointed message of gratitude to Nigeria’s security forces, praising frontline soldiers and civilian security actors for their role in a widening campaign against terrorism and violent crime that has reshaped daily life across swaths of the country.
The President who stated this on his official Xhandle Tinubu described security apparatus as “a shield between innocent citizens and those who seek to destroy the peace, safety, and dignity of our communities.”
He lauded troops operating “in the forests, on the roads, at forward operating bases, in the air, creeks, and across difficult terrains,” saying they shoulder “the burden of national protection” that allows millions of Nigerians to sleep, work, worship, farm and trade.
President Tinubu said “This fight has not been easy,” noting that the pain, pressure and sacrifice borne by personnel on the front lines and by their families.
He extended official thanks to the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other local and intelligence formations, and paid tribute to those who “have paid the supreme price in defence of our country.”
Security analysts say such public expressions of support serve multiple purposes: they recognize personnel morale needs after prolonged operations, seek to reassure a public alarmed by persistent attacks, and underscore the administration’s focus on stabilizing regions long afflicted by insurgency, banditry and kidnapping.
NewsQuest reports that Nigeria has struggled for years with an array of violent groups that operate across the country’s northern and coastal states, draining local economies and displacing communities.
President Tinubu urged citizens to take an active role alongside security services, asking them to provide “timely, useful information” and to adopt a “when you see something, say something” posture.
Families of service members, President Tinubu said, also deserve national recognition.
“Many of you have endured long absences, anxious nights, and the emotional cost of duty. Nigeria remembers that sacrifice, too.”
The President’s remarks come amid renewed operations in several hotspots and ongoing debates in Abuja about how best to balance military action with community-based interventions.
“The fight against terror is not only a military operation. It is a national duty,” the President added, reiterating a national resolve: “Nigeria will not surrender to fear. We will not allow terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, or violent extremists to define who we are as a people.”
