By Ghazali Ibrahim
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday declared a nationwide security emergency, unveiling bold measures aimed at tackling Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.
Under the directive, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is to recruit an additional 20,000 officers, bringing the total number planned for this recruitment cycle to 50,000.
To fast‑track the expansion of the force, the government has temporarily authorized the use of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camps as police training depots.
Police officers previously assigned to VIP protection duties will also be retrained and redeployed to high‑risk areas.
In addition, Tinubu directed the Department of State Services (DSS) to deploy all trained forest‑guard personnel to flush out terrorists, bandits, and other armed criminals hiding in forested regions and authorized further hiring to bolster forest security.
The president framed the move as a necessary response to recurring kidnappings, mass abductions, and violent attacks on communities and schools across the country.
He urged the National Assembly to consider state policing laws while calling on religious and educational institutions in remote areas to strengthen protection measures.
With the country under mounting pressure from a surge in insecurity, the sweeping recruitment and retraining plan is being viewed as a major shift in how the federal government is prioritizing public safety over VIP security.
