President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency in response to the rising wave of attacks by bandits, terrorists, and other criminal groups across Nigeria. The President, in a statement personally issued, announced an expanded recruitment drive into the Armed Forces and Police, activation of forest guards, and reinforced security measures in vulnerable areas, emphasizing that the current security challenges require immediate and decisive action.
Under the new directive, the police are to recruit an additional 20,000 officers, raising their total strength to 50,000, while the army will also increase its personnel. The President further authorized the use of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps as temporary training facilities to complement previous upgrades to police training institutions, ensuring rapid capacity building. Officers withdrawn from VIP protection duties will undergo crash retraining to ensure they can deliver efficient security services when deployed to high-risk areas.
Tinubu also instructed the Department of State Services (DSS) to fully implement forest security operations, deploying all trained forest guards to flush out terrorists and bandits hiding in forests. Additional recruitment within the DSS has been approved, with the President asserting that “there will be no more hiding places for agents of evil.” He described the security situation as a national emergency and appealed to citizens to assist in protecting their communities, stressing that all hands must be on deck.
The President commended security forces for recent successes, including the rescue of abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi and 38 worshippers in Kwara State, and assured the public of continued efforts to free remaining hostages. Addressing military personnel, he praised their courage and sacrifice, urging them to maintain discipline, integrity, and professionalism while pledging full administrative support to ensure their effectiveness in restoring peace across all operational theaters.
Tinubu also pledged federal support to states with existing security outfits and encouraged the National Assembly to review legislation to enable the establishment of state police where necessary. He cautioned against operating boarding schools in remote and unsecured areas and advised religious institutions to maintain close coordination with security agencies during gatherings. The President reiterated his administration’s approach to resolving farmer-herder conflicts, urging herder groups to abandon open grazing, surrender illegal weapons, and embrace ranching through the Ministry of Livestock Development.
Expressing condolences to families affected by attacks in Kebbi, Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Yobe, and Kwara States, Tinubu also paid tribute to fallen soldiers, including Brigadier-General Musa Uba. In a rallying call to Nigerians, he urged vigilance, cooperation with security agencies, and the rejection of fear or despair, affirming that “we are in this fight together, and together we shall win,” while emphasizing the importance of national unity and resilience in overcoming the country’s security challenges.