Akpabio Assures Nigerians Banditry Will Be Defeated by 2026, Hailing International Military Synergy at Akwa Ibom Prayer Service

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has issued a bold projection for Nigeria’s security landscape, assuring the nation that the twin menaces of banditry and insurgency will be effectively neutralized by the end of 2026.

Following a traditional day of prayer and fasting at his hometown’s Methodist Cathedral, Akpabio delivered a message of “National Redemption.” The Senate President noted that the momentum of the war on terror has shifted dramatically in favor of the Nigerian state, particularly following recent high-tech military successes in the Northwest.

“I want to assure all Nigerians that the new year will usher in renewed peace in our country,” Akpabio said in a statement released through his Special Assistant on Media, Anietie Ekong. “By the reason of the birth of Jesus Christ, Nigerians will be redeemed from banditry and insurgency in the new year and beyond. We are entering a phase where the shadows of fear are finally being lifted.”

The Senate President’s optimism is not merely philosophical; he explicitly linked the projected 2026 victory to the “renewed collaboration with international partners.” His comments follow the high-profile Christmas Day precision strikes in Sokoto, which utilized U.S. intelligence and hardware. Akpabio emphasized that this level of global synergy, combined with the current administration’s “Renewed Hope” mandate, has made the total defeat of criminal elements an “attainable reality.”

He further appealed to the Nigerian public to maintain a unified front. “I enjoin Nigerians, irrespective of political leanings, to support the administration of President Bola Tinubu. National development can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace, and that peace is now within our grasp.”

The service, an annual December 26 fixture for the Akpabio family, also saw Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio call for selfless love and the setting aside of personal biases to foster community progress. Chief Ekan Akpabio, the head of the greater Akpabio family, urged the Senate President to remain a steadfast ambassador for the people of Essien Udim and Akwa Ibom State as he steers the legislative arm of government toward these security milestones.

As the 10th National Assembly prepares to resume for the 2026 legislative year, Akpabio’s assurance sets a high benchmark for the country’s defense budget and security oversight, signaling that the federal government is prepared to commit whatever resources are necessary to meet this timeline.