Kwara massacre: Tinubu talks tough, promises to defeat terrorism
By John Okezie
Following the February 4, 2026 mindless killings of over 75 residents in Nuku and Woro communities in the Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, President Bola Tinubu has promised to combat terrorism and defeat it, regretting that the situation has kept Nigerians sleepless at night.
Tinubu made the promise when he declared the National Economic Council (NEC) open in Abuja. He assured that the Federal Government must win the fight against terrorism and banditry.
“I will find means to strengthen our security forces to defeat terrorism. That, I promise you. It’s what has kept all of us sleepless at night. But I assure you that we will win with determination and resilience. We will overcome this unacceptable terrorism and banditry. It’s not part of our culture. It’s foreign to us.
“So, it’s an economic hindrance, if we do not find an immediate solution to it. I commend many of you, particularly the Governor of Borno State, Governor of Katsina, Governor of Kaduna, many of you who have done so much to defend our freedom, liberty, and our commonwealth. On this note, I hereby declare the second edition of the NEC Conference open,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the president commended NEC for sustaining the platform for strategic dialogue, policy coordination, and collective action across national and sub-national governments.
NEC, he said, remains a cornerstone of fiscal federalism and economic governance in the country.
“The theme of this conferences, ‘Delivering Inclusive Growth and Sustainable National Development, the Renewable National Development Plan 2036-2035,’ speaks directly to our national aspirations.
“It reflects our resolve to move from recovery to transformation, and from malnutrition to warm action that is inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. Nigeria stands at a crossroads with its incurring structural challenges, including up-to-date imbalances, infrastructure weaknesses, unemployment, poverty, climate vulnerabilities, and limited physical space.
“Yet our people possess the resilience, creativity, and determination to overcome these realities. Since the inception of this administration, we have undertaken bold and necessary reforms to stabilise the economy, restore confidence, and lay the foundation for long-term growth. These reforms are instruments for delivering prosperity, dignity, and opportunity to all Nigerians.
“I must say again at this juncture, the monetary policy that we have embarked on since the reform has yielded positive results, and it is being recognised around the world,” he said, explaining that the nation has recorded notable achievements that reflect the nation’s commitment to co-operative federalism and inclusive development.
In his remarks, Vice President Kassim Shettima stated that the journey towards inclusive growth demands sustainable national development, development that balances expansion with equity, opportunity with responsibility, and prosperity with environmental stewardship.
“It is no longer enough to measure progress by Gross Domestic Products (GDP) figures alone. We must ask harder questions. How does growth transform lives? How does it uplift communities? How does it strengthen national coherence? As members of this council and leaders of our respective states, the weight of responsibility weighs heavily on our shoulders,” he said.
