Nigeria, June 12 -- President Bola Tinubu on Friday said the recent abductions of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states had cast a shadow over Nigeria's 2026 Democracy Day celebrations, declaring that his administration would show "no mercy" to terrorists, kidnappers and other violent criminals.

In his Democracy Day address, the president said the mood of the nation had been dampened by the kidnapping of the children (and their teachers), but assured Nigerians that the government remained hopeful of securing their safe return.

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists invaded four schools in Borno and Oyo states and kidnapped 88 students and teachers. The attacks in the two states were carried out separately, and there is no indication that they...