President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency as part of a new plan to confront the growing wave of violence, kidnappings, and attacks affecting several parts of Nigeria. The President made the declaration in a statement released from the State House on Wednesday, outlining a series of directives aimed at strengthening the country’s security forces and restoring public confidence.
The emergency declaration comes amid rising concerns over banditry, terrorism, communal clashes, and ransom kidnappings, which have continued to disrupt daily life for millions of Nigerians. Communities in the North-West, North-East, North-Central, and parts of the South have suffered repeated attacks, leaving many residents displaced and deepening fears about the state of national security.
In the statement, President Tinubu directed the Nigerian Police Force and the Armed Forces to recruit thousands of new personnel to help boost ongoing operations. Specifically, he ordered the police to take in an additional 20,000 officers, increasing the total planned recruitment from 30,000 to 50,000.
To speed up the recruitment process, the President also approved the use of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps as temporary training centers for police recruits. He explained that the move was necessary to ensure that security agencies can quickly deploy trained officers to areas where they are needed most.
Tinubu stressed that the country could no longer afford delays in strengthening its security architecture, noting that criminals must not interpret the government’s caution as weakness. “This is a national emergency, and we are responding by deploying more boots on the ground, especially in security-challenged areas,” he said. “The times require all hands on deck.”
The President also directed that police officers who have been recalled from VIP protection duties should undergo a crash training program. This, he said, would prepare them for more demanding operations in troubled parts of the country.
In a further move to confront criminal groups hiding in remote areas, Tinubu ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately deploy all trained forest guards to clear out terrorists and bandits operating in forests across the nation. He also instructed the agency to recruit additional personnel specifically for forest operations.
Nigeria’s forests—especially in states such as Kaduna, Zamfara, Niger, Nasarawa, and Ondo—have become base camps for armed groups responsible for kidnappings, attacks on villages, and ambushes on highways. Previous attempts to flush out these groups have been slowed by limited manpower and difficult terrain.
Tinubu said the new deployment would ensure “there will be no more hiding places for agents of evil,” adding that he expects decisive action from all security agencies.
Nigeria has struggled with security challenges for more than a decade. The Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, which started in 2009, has led to thousands of deaths and millions of displaced persons. Although the intensity of Boko Haram attacks has reduced in recent years, splinter groups such as ISWAP remain active.
In the North-West, banditry has escalated sharply, with armed groups kidnapping schoolchildren, attacking rural communities, rustling cattle, and demanding ransom. In the North-Central region, farmers and herders’ clashes continue to claim lives, while in the South-East, separatist violence and attacks on government facilities have become more frequent. Even the South-West, once regarded as relatively safer, has recorded cases of kidnappings and armed robbery on major roads.
In his statement, President Tinubu praised the coordinated efforts of security agencies in securing the recent release of 24 schoolgirls kidnapped in Kebbi State and 38 worshippers abducted in Kwara State. He said these successes show what can be achieved when agencies work together, and encouraged them to sustain the momentum.
The President also assured Nigerians that rescue efforts are ongoing for the remaining students of a Catholic school in Niger State and others still held captive. Kidnapping for ransom has become a major driver of insecurity, with criminals targeting schools, churches, mosques, farms, and highways.
Tinubu urged citizens to support security agencies by providing useful information, remaining alert, and cooperating with authorities in their communities. “We are in this fight together, and together we shall win,” he said.
The President also addressed the nation’s armed forces, commending them for their sacrifice and resilience despite the difficult conditions under which they operate. He charged soldiers and officers to remain disciplined, committed, and professional as they carry out their duties.
“There must be no compromise, no collusion, and no negligence,” he warned. Tinubu promised that his administration would provide all necessary support—financial, logistical, and technical—to enable the military and police to succeed.
This includes upgrading training facilities, improving intelligence gathering, and ensuring better coordination between the army, police, DSS, and other security bodies.
Tinubu urged Nigerians to unite across political, ethnic, and religious lines to confront the insecurity that threatens the country’s stability. He stressed that the crisis affects everyone and that national unity is essential for long-term peace.
With this declaration, President Tinubu has signaled a new phase in the fight against insecurity—one that relies on larger, better-trained forces and a more aggressive approach to clearing out criminal hideouts. The coming months will test whether the new recruits, forest guard deployments, and increased cooperation among security agencies can produce meaningful results.
For many Nigerians who continue to live in fear of attacks, the President’s announcement brings a mix of hope and expectation. Communities across the country will be watching closely to see how quickly these new measures take effect and whether they will lead to a safer and more secure nation.
