President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday declared a nationwide security emergency and directed the Nigerian Army, Police, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately recruit additional personnel in response to rising insecurity across the country.
In a State House statement, the President authorised the police to recruit 20,000 more officers, raising the ongoing recruitment plan to 50,000. He also approved the temporary use of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps as training depots for new police recruits. Officers withdrawn from VIP protection duties are to undergo accelerated retraining before deployment to high-risk areas.
Tinubu further directed the DSS to deploy trained forest guards to flush out terrorists and bandits hiding in forests. The agency was also authorised to recruit additional personnel to reinforce its operations.
The President described the situation as a “national emergency,” saying more security personnel will be deployed, particularly in troubled regions. He urged Nigerians to support security agencies and remain vigilant.
Tinubu commended security forces for securing the release of 24 abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi and 38 worshippers in Kwara, and reaffirmed commitments to rescuing remaining abductees in Niger State and elsewhere.
He charged the military to restore peace across all operational zones and maintain strict discipline, assuring them of federal support. He also encouraged states with local security outfits to continue strengthening them.
The President urged the National Assembly to begin reviewing laws that would allow states wishing to establish state police to do so. He advised states to reconsider running boarding schools in remote areas without adequate protection and urged religious centres in vulnerable areas to seek security coverage during gatherings.
Tinubu appealed to herders’ associations to embrace ranching and utilise the newly established Livestock Ministry, calling for an end to open grazing and the surrender of illegal arms.
He expressed sympathy for families affected by recent attacks in Kebbi, Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Yobe, and Kwara, and paid tribute to fallen soldiers, including Brigadier-General Musa Uba.
Tinubu warned that the government’s restraint should not be mistaken for weakness, insisting that the administration has the resolve to safeguard the nation.
He called on citizens to remain calm, report suspicious activities, and cooperate with security agencies, stating: “We are in this fight together, and together we shall win.”
