President Bola Tinubu yesterday asked Nigerians to resist the temptation of succumbing to fear in the face of terror attacks in parts of the country.
He said his administration was doing everything within its power to defeat terrorism.
He spoke against the backdrop of the latest wave of terror attacks in Borno State including the Wednesday raid in Ngoshe where scores of residents were abducted by suspected insurgents of Boko Haram and ISWAP.
Konduga, Marte, Jakana and Mainok in the same state were similarly attacked between Wednesday and early yesterday.
Locals said scores of people may have been abducted in the attacks.
Speaking during an interfaith breaking of fast with members of the Armed Forces and other security agencies at the State House, Abuja,President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to defeat terrorism and other threats to Nigeria’s stability, declaring that the country would ultimately prevail against forces undermining its peace and unity.
He said Nigeria would overcome the security challenges confronting it.
“We will win. Nigeria will prevail,” the President said and assured troops and citizens alike that the government remained committed to restoring peace across the country.
Tinubu said he had already reached out to Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, to express sympathy and solidarity with the people of the state following the attack.
“My sympathy goes to the Vice President and the entire country, and the people of Borno for the incident that occurred. I made a call to Zulum to share the pain with him,” the President said.
He acknowledged the sacrifices being made by military personnel and other security operatives in the fight against terrorism and banditry, assuring them that their efforts would not be in vain.
This nation will always be grateful to you. Many times you are without your families and face attacks from bandits and terrorists, yet you continue to serve and protect our sovereignty,” Tinubu said.
He emphasised that the welfare of members of the armed forces and their families would remain a priority for his administration.
“I assure you we will do everything possible to ensure that you have no regrets. The welfare of you and your families will always take first priority in our decisions,” the President said.
Tinubu also acknowledged the challenges faced by the military, including the shortage of accommodation and other operational constraints, promising that the government would continue to address them.
Reflecting on the country’s economic reforms, the President admitted that his administration encountered significant turbulence when it assumed office but expressed optimism that the worst was over.
“When we first started, we had a rough ride and ran into very serious turbulence. But I can say today that we have stabilised the economy. We are out of the dark tunnel. We are seeing the daylight and bright light ahead of us”, he said.
