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| President Bola Amend Tinubu |
President Bola Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency in Nigeria. The announcement on Wednesday follows a sharp increase in mass kidnappings and armed violence across the country. The president ordered the immediate recruitment of 20,000 new police officers .
This new recruitment brings the total number of planned new police hires to 50,000 . It is a central part of a broad strategy to put more security personnel on the front lines. The president also gave a major push for the creation of state police, calling on the National Assembly to review laws to allow it .
The declaration comes after a week of severe attacks. Assailants kidnapped hundreds of people, including schoolchildren and worshipers . These incidents happened in states like Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara. While some victims have been rescued, many are still held captive . The president commended security forces for their efforts in recent rescue operations. He also paid tribute to soldiers who have died, including Brigadier-General Musa Uba .
To quickly train the new recruits, the president has authorized the use of various National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps as training depots . This move is intended to speed up the process of getting more officers into the field. The government had previously approved upgrades to police training facilities, but the use of NYSC camps provides a immediate solution .
A key part of the new security plan involves a significant shift of police personnel. Officers currently assigned to protect VIPs will be withdrawn from those duties . These officers will undergo what the president called "crash training" to prepare them for redeployment to regions facing high levels of violence . The goal is to strengthen police presence in communities that are most vulnerable to attacks .
A retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Abutu Yaro, has warned that this withdrawal of police from VIPs must be handled with serious caution . He cited historical cases where prominent Nigerians were killed after being left without police protection. He also expressed doubts about the plan for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to take over VIP protection. He stated that the civil defence corps is not designed for such duties .
The president's security emergency extends beyond the police. The Department of State Services (DSS) has been ordered to immediately deploy all trained forest guards . Their mission is to find and flush out terrorists and bandits hiding in forests across Nigeria. The DSS also has a directive to recruit more personnel to manage and secure these forest areas . The president stated clearly, "There will be no more hiding places for agents of evil" .
In his address, President Tinubu voiced strong support for the idea of state police. He urged the National Assembly to begin the process of reviewing the country's laws to permit states to establish their own police forces . He said his administration would support state governments that have already created local security outfits . This is a significant step in the national debate on decentralizing police power.
The president also addressed the persistent conflict between herders and farmers. He pointed to the newly created Livestock Ministry as the solution . He called on herder associations to end open grazing, surrender illegal weapons, and embrace ranching. He described ranching as the only sustainable path forward for livestock farming and national harmony .
The government is also advising states to reconsider the location of boarding schools. The president suggested that states should think twice about having boarding schools in remote areas if there is not enough security to protect them . Religious institutions were also advised to always seek police protection when gathering for prayers, especially in areas known to be vulnerable to attacks .
President Tinubu called on all Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant. He asked citizens to report suspicious activities and to cooperate with security agencies. "We are in this fight together, and together we shall win," he said . The government's strategy now relies on a combination of more personnel, smarter deployment, and broader legal frameworks to tackle the security crisis.