President Bola Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency in response to the escalating security crisis across Nigeria. The president made this decisive announcement through a personal statement released on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
The declaration comes after a devastating week of coordinated banditry attacks that resulted in the kidnapping of women and children, along with the tragic killing of innocent citizens in various parts of the country.
Enhanced Security Personnel Recruitment
President Tinubu has authorized immediate additional recruitment into the armed forces, specifically directing both the police and army to expand their personnel numbers. The Nigerian Police Force is expected to recruit an additional 20,000 officers as part of this emergency security enhancement initiative.
The president also approved the use of National Youth Service Corps camps for training new police recruits. This temporary measure addresses the urgent need for expanded training facilities despite previous plans for nationwide police training facility upgrades.
Retraining of Withdrawn VIP Guards
Addressing the recent withdrawal of police officers from VIP protection duties, Tinubu explained that these officers will undergo intensive crash training programs to prepare them for deployment to high-security risk areas across Nigeria.
The retraining initiative aims to debrief the officers from their previous VIP protection roles and equip them with enhanced skills for more efficient police services in communities facing severe security challenges.
DSS Forest Guard Deployment
In a significant move to combat terrorists and bandits hiding in forests, President Tinubu has directed the Department of State Services to immediately deploy trained forest guards. These specialized personnel will conduct operations to flush out criminal elements from forest hideouts nationwide.
The DSS has also received authorization to embark on new recruitment to strengthen its operational capacity in addressing the national security emergency.
President Tinubu vowed that "agents of evil" will have no more hiding places in the country and emphasized that his administration is responding with increased boots on the ground, particularly in areas experiencing severe security challenges.
The president called for collective responsibility, urging all Nigerians to "get involved in securing our nation" and treat the current situation as a national emergency that requires unified action from all citizens.
