Photos: President Declares Nationwide Security Emergency, Orders Massive Recruitment Into Army and Police

November 27, 2025
By Ayinde Adeleke

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday declared a nationwide security emergency and directed an immediate expansion of the country’s security workforce in response to rising threats across several regions.

In a national statement, the President authorised the police and the Nigerian Army to begin large-scale recruitment to strengthen frontline operations. Under the new directive, the Nigeria Police Force is to recruit an additional 20,000 officers, raising its ongoing recruitment figure to 50,000 personnel.

The President also approved the use of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps as temporary training centres to speed up the process, complementing the existing upgrades earlier approved for police training facilities nationwide.

He further directed that police officers currently assigned to VIP guard duties be withdrawn and placed in accelerated retraining programmes. The aim, he said, is to redeploy them to high-risk areas where manpower is urgently needed.

In addition, the Department of State Services (DSS) has been given immediate approval to deploy already-trained forest guards to clear out criminal elements hiding in the country’s forests. The agency has also been authorised to recruit additional personnel to reinforce ongoing operations.

Describing the move as a response to a “national emergency,” the President said the objective is to increase the number of security personnel on the ground, especially in states facing severe security threats. He urged citizens to support security agencies and participate actively in safeguarding their communities.

President Tinubu also commended the joint efforts of security operatives that led to the recent rescue of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi State and 38 worshippers in Kwara State. He assured Nigerians that the government remains committed to securing the release of the remaining abducted students in Niger State and others still in captivity.

Addressing the Armed Forces, the President praised their courage and sacrifices, charging them to remain committed and professional in restoring peace nationwide. He emphasised that there must be no compromise or negligence in ongoing operations and promised that the administration would continue to provide the resources needed to ensure success.

The new measures mark one of the most significant security overhauls announced by the administration to date, with expectations of increased deployment and intensified operations across security-challenged regions.