President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency in response to the surge in bandit attacks, kidnappings, and violent raids recorded across multiple states in recent weeks. The announcement, made through an official statement on Wednesday, marks one of the most far-reaching federal security directives since the administration took office.
According to the statement, President Tinubu has authorised the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately embark on large-scale recruitment drives aimed at boosting personnel strength and expanding frontline operations.
The President approved the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers, increasing the current target to 50,000 new officers. He also directed that NYSC orientation camps nationwide be used as temporary training depots to fast-track the preparation of new recruits.
Tinubu further instructed that police officers withdrawn from VIP protection duties must undergo urgent retraining before being deployed to areas facing severe security challenges. The move is intended to redirect manpower to zones experiencing attacks on schools, religious spaces, rural communities, and transportation routes.
In the same statement, the President mandated the DSS to immediately deploy all trained forest guards to clear out criminal groups hiding in forests and ungoverned spaces. The agency also received approval to recruit additional personnel to strengthen surveillance and intelligence operations across high-risk locations.
“This is a national emergency, and we are responding by deploying more boots on the ground, especially in the most vulnerable areas,” President Tinubu said. He urged Nigerians to remain calm, report suspicious activities, and work closely with security operatives as investigations and rescue efforts intensify.
The President commended security agencies for the successful rescue of 24 schoolgirls abducted in Kebbi State and 38 worshippers kidnapped in Eruku, Kwara State, noting that coordinated efforts are still underway to locate and free students kidnapped from a Catholic school in Niger State.
Calling for stronger collaboration, Tinubu urged state governors to enhance local security structures, emphasizing that federal forces alone cannot be present everywhere. He also appealed to the National Assembly to accelerate the review of laws enabling states that wish to establish state police to do so.
The President advised state governments to reassess the placement of boarding schools in remote areas and encouraged religious institutions to seek regular security support, especially in communities deemed high-risk.
Speaking on the longstanding farmer–herder conflicts, Tinubu pointed to the recently created Livestock Ministry as a key solution. He urged herder associations to embrace ranching, end open grazing, and surrender illegal weapons, promising full government cooperation to ensure peaceful livestock management nationwide.
Tinubu extended condolences to families affected by recent attacks in Kebbi, Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Yobe, and Kwara States, and paid tribute to fallen security personnel, including Brigadier-General Musa Uba, who was killed in the line of duty.
Reassuring citizens of the government’s determination, he said:
“Those who want to test our resolve should never mistake our restraint for weakness. We will secure this nation and ensure our people live in peace.”
Further updates are expected as security agencies implement the emergency measures and recruitment process nationwide.
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