President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday declared a nationwide security emergency in response to the escalating wave of violent attacks across several states, authorising major recruitment drives within the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police Force to reinforce national security.
In an official State House statement, the President announced that the police have been cleared to recruit an additional 20,000 officers—bringing the total number of new recruits approved under his administration to 50,000. The military has also been authorised to expand its personnel strength.
To fast-track training, Tinubu directed police authorities to immediately begin using National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps as temporary training facilities, complementing the ongoing upgrade of police colleges nationwide. Officers recently withdrawn from VIP protection duties are to undergo crash retraining before deployment to high-risk areas.
The President also empowered the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately deploy trained forest guards to flush out terrorists and bandits hiding in the nation’s forests. He further ordered the recruitment of additional personnel for forest operations, warning that “there will be no more hiding places for agents of evil.”
“It is a national emergency, and we are responding by deploying more boots on the ground, especially in security-challenged areas,” Tinubu said, urging citizens to support efforts to stabilise the country.
The President commended security agencies for coordinating the rescue of 24 abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi State and 38 kidnapped worshippers in Kwara State, and assured continued rescue operations for remaining hostages, including students abducted in Niger State.
To the military, he issued a firm charge: “There must be no compromise, no collusion, and no negligence. The Nigerian people are counting on you.”
Tinubu also reiterated the administration’s support for state-level security outfits and called on the National Assembly to begin reviewing laws to enable states that desire it to establish their own police forces.
He advised state governments to avoid locating boarding schools in remote, unsecured areas and urged religious institutions in vulnerable communities to seek security coverage during worship.
Addressing the persistent farmer–herder conflict, Tinubu reminded herder groups that the newly created Ministry of Livestock Development is designed to provide sustainable solutions, urging them to embrace ranching, end open grazing, and surrender illegal weapons.
The President extended condolences to families affected by recent attacks in Kebbi, Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Yobe, and Kwara states, and paid tribute to fallen soldiers, including Brigadier-General Musa Uba.
Warning violent groups against underestimating the government’s resolve, Tinubu said: “Those who want to test our resolve should never mistake our restraint for weakness.”
He urged Nigerians to remain calm, vigilant, and united: “We are in this fight together, and together we shall win.”
The statement was signed by President Tinubu and dated November 26, 2025.