President Bola Tinubu has directed the Nigerian military to decisively confront insurgents, bandits, separatists, and other criminal elements threatening the nation’s peace and sovereignty.

The president issued the directive during the grand finale of the 2025 Nigerian Army Day celebration in Kaduna State. Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu pledged continued investment in modern equipment, intelligence, and personnel welfare to boost military effectiveness.

“Our armed forces must act with professionalism, courage, discipline and honour, guided by the Constitution and global best practices,” Shettima said.

He praised the Army’s historic role in national unity, referencing its contribution to ending the civil war and its record in peacekeeping missions abroad. “The Nigerian Army is not just a force of arms—it is a symbol of duty and unity,” he said.

Acknowledging the current security challenges, Shettima noted: “These are not ordinary threats—they are existential. They do not discriminate. They burn churches and mosques. They abduct children without asking who they worship. Our response must be unified and firm.”

President Tinubu came to office in 2023 promising to address insecurity. However, violence has escalated in many regions, particularly the North West and Middle Belt. In Benue State, 6,896 people were reportedly killed in the past two years, followed by 2,630 deaths in Plateau State, according to Amnesty International.

“The authorities continue to fail to protect lives,” said Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International Nigeria’s director.

Sanusi criticised the government’s security approach, noting an increase in attacks by Boko Haram and other groups. “The security measures implemented by President Tinubu’s government are simply not working,” he stated.

Tinubu, in a second anniversary speech, claimed Nigerian troops had restored order and made roads and farmlands safer. However, separatist tensions and jihadist violence persist across several regions.