Tinubu Declares Security Emergency, Orders Massive Recruitments Into Army, Police

Tinubu Declares Security Emergency, Orders Massive Recruitments Into Army, Police

In a decisive move to confront Nigeria’s escalating security challenges, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency.

The announcement, made from the Statehouse on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, outlines sweeping measures aimed at strengthening the country’s defense and law enforcement capacity.

Central to the president’s directive is the immediate recruitment of tens of thousands of new personnel into both the Nigerian Army and the Police Force.

Specifically, the police have been ordered to recruit an additional 20,000 officers, raising the total planned intake to 50,000. To expedite training, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps will be repurposed as temporary training facilities.

Officers previously assigned to VIP guard duties are to undergo crash retraining before redeployment to security-challenged regions, ensuring that manpower is redirected to areas most in need.

The emergency measures extend beyond the police and army. The Department of State Services (DSS) has been authorized to deploy trained forest guards to flush out terrorists and bandits hiding in Nigeria’s forests.

Furthermore, the DSS has been directed to recruit additional personnel to secure these vulnerable areas, with the president emphasizing that “there will be no more hiding places for agents of evil.”

President Tinubu commended the security agencies for their recent successes, including the rescue of 24 kidnapped schoolgirls in Kebbi State and 38 worshippers abducted in Kwara State. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to securing the release of remaining hostages, such as the Catholic school students in Niger State.

In his address, Tinubu praised the courage and sacrifice of the armed forces, urging them to remain resolute, disciplined, and uncompromising in their mission to restore peace across all theaters of operation.

The president also pledged federal support for state governments that have established local security outfits, recognizing their role in safeguarding communities against terrorist threats. His message to Nigerians was clear: the fight against insecurity requires collective effort, and every citizen has a role to play in securing the nation.

This declaration marks one of the most significant security interventions of Tinubu’s administration, signaling a shift toward aggressive recruitment, redeployment, and community-level defense strategies. It underscores the urgency of Nigeria’s security situation and the government’s determination to confront it head-on.