Rismadar Voice Reporter
November 27, 2025
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday declared a nationwide security emergency and directed an immediate expansion of the country’s security forces in response to escalating attacks across several states.
The President in a statement issued Wednesday evening authorised the Nigeria Police Force to recruit an additional 20,000 personnel, raising total new intakes to 50,000, while also granting the Nigerian Army approval to conduct fresh recruitment to boost manpower in crisis-prone areas.
Tinubu further ordered the police to begin using National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps as training depots to accelerate the onboarding of recruits.
Officers previously assigned to VIP protection duties are to undergo rapid retraining before redeployment to frontline operations.
The President also directed the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately deploy all trained forest guards to comb forests for terrorists and bandits, with additional recruitment approved to strengthen the unit.
“There will be no more hiding places for agents of evil,” he said.
Tinubu described the situation as a “national emergency” and urged citizens to support security agencies through vigilance and cooperation.
He commended security operatives for the rescue of 24 abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi State and 38 worshippers in Kwara State, and assured that efforts were ongoing to free remaining hostages, including students kidnapped in Niger State.
The President praised the Armed Forces for their sacrifices, paying tribute to personnel killed in recent operations, including Brigadier-General Musa Uba, and warned that criminal groups should not mistake the government’s restraint for weakness.
Tinubu called on state governments with security outfits to intensify operations, urged the National Assembly to consider legislation permitting state police, and advised states to avoid locating boarding schools in remote, unsecured areas.
He appealed to mosques and churches in vulnerable zones to seek police presence during gatherings and encouraged herders to embrace ranching, take advantage of the newly created Livestock Ministry, and surrender illegal arms.
The President condoled families of victims of attacks in Kebbi, Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Yobe, and Kwara States, and urged Nigerians to remain calm and vigilant. “We are in this fight together, and together we shall win,” he said.
