By Our Correspondent
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency in response to escalating insecurity across the country and has ordered immediate large-scale recruitment into Nigeria’s security services. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the President authorised the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army to enlist additional personnel, including 20,000 new police officers, bringing the total number of new police recruits to 50,000. He also approved the temporary use of NYSC orientation camps as police training centres to speed up the recruitment and training process. Police officers withdrawn from VIP protection duties are to undergo accelerated retraining before redeployment to high-risk areas.
Tinubu further directed the Department of State Services to immediately deploy all trained forest guards to clear out terrorists and bandits hiding in forests nationwide. The DSS has also been authorised to recruit more personnel to strengthen operations in forested areas.
The President commended the cooperation among security agencies, especially in the recent successful rescue of 24 abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi State and 38 worshippers in Kwara State. He assured Nigerians that efforts would continue until all remaining captives, including the students still held in Niger State, are safely reunited with their families.
Addressing the Armed Forces, Tinubu praised their sacrifices and urged them to remain professional, disciplined, and resolute in restoring peace across all operational fronts. He promised continued federal support and stated that the government would assist states that have established local security outfits to protect their communities.
Tinubu called on the National Assembly to begin reviewing Nigeria’s security laws to allow states that require state police to establish them. He urged state governments to reconsider setting up boarding schools in remote areas without adequate security and advised religious institutions to seek consistent police protection when gathering for prayers, particularly in vulnerable regions.
On resolving herder–farmer conflicts, the President urged herders to embrace the ranching programme under the newly established Livestock Ministry and to surrender illegal weapons, stating that open grazing must come to an end to ensure national harmony.
Tinubu expressed deep sympathy to families affected by recent attacks in Kebbi, Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Yobe, and Kwara States, and paid tribute to fallen military personnel, including Brigadier-General Musa Uba. He warned that the government’s restraint should not be mistaken for weakness, reaffirming his administration’s determination to secure the country and ensure Nigerians live in peace.
