Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday declared a nationwide security emergency as armed violence intensified across several troubled states. He ordered the army and police to recruit thousands of personnel in a sweeping effort to restore authority and reassure anxious citizens.
Tinubu announced that the police would hire 20,000 officers, lifting total strength to 50,000 and expanding training through National Youth Service Corps camps. He directed the removal of officers from VIP protection duties for rapid retraining and immediate deployment to conflict-hit communities.
The president authorised the Department of State Services to deploy trained forest guards and recruit additional staff to flush out gunmen hiding in remote woodlands. Tinubu vowed there would be “no more hiding places for agents of evil,” delivering the statement in a sombre televised address.
His announcement followed deadly attacks in Kebbi, Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Yobe and Kwara, where dozens of civilians were killed or abducted. Tinubu praised security forces for rescuing 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi and 38 worshippers in Kwara during coordinated operations across difficult terrain.
He pledged to secure the release of all remaining hostages, including students taken during recent raids in Niger state. Tinubu urged parliament to revise laws that prevent states from forming their own police forces, arguing that local enforcement could strengthen national security.
He called on religious institutions to request formal protection for worship gatherings as militants increasingly target vulnerable crowds. The president appealed to herder associations to adopt ranching, surrender illegal weapons and support efforts to end long-running clashes with farming communities.
Tinubu extended condolences to families of victims and honoured fallen troops, including Brigadier-General Musa Uba, describing their sacrifices as a shield for the nation. He warned that those seeking to test the state’s resolve “should never mistake restraint for weakness” as authorities shift towards a firmer security posture. Nigeria continues to battle Islamist insurgents, armed bandits and communal violence, which have killed thousands and displaced millions over the past decade.