President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday declared a nationwide security emergency in response to escalating armed violence across Nigeria. The announcement comes after a series of deadly attacks in Kebbi, Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Yobe, and Kwara states, where dozens of civilians were killed or abducted.
As part of the emergency measures, Tinubu directed the Nigeria Police Force to recruit 20,000 additional officers, bringing total manpower to 50,000. He also authorised the use of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps as temporary training centers to fast-track the recruitment process.
The president further ordered the withdrawal of police officers from VIP protection duties so they can be redeployed to critical conflict zones after rapid retraining.
Tinubu also empowered the Department of State Services (DSS) to deploy trained forest guards and hire more specialists to track and eliminate armed groups hiding in remote forests.
“There will be no more hiding places for agents of evil,” he said in a televised broadcast.
He commended security forces for rescuing 24 abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi and 38 worshippers in Kwara, and pledged that more hostages — including kidnapped students in Niger State — would be freed.
Tinubu urged the National Assembly to revise existing laws to allow states to establish their own police forces. He also encouraged religious institutions to strengthen security during gatherings and called on herder groups to embrace ranching and surrender illegal weapons to curb farmer-herder conflicts.
“I sympathise with families who lost loved ones and pay tribute to our brave soldiers, including Brigadier-General Musa Uba,” Tinubu said. “Those who want to test our resolve should never mistake our restraint for weakness.”
Nigeria continues to grapple with violence linked to insurgents, armed bandits, and communal clashes — insecurity that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions over the past decade.
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