Tinubu Orders 50,000 Security Recruits, Declares Nationwide Emergency

Nigeria is set for its most sweeping Security overhaul in years as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday declared a National Security emergency, unveiling an aggressive, multi-layered response to the escalating violence across several States.

Tinubu approved the enlistment of an additional 20,000 Army and Police personnel, raising the total number of new recruits to 50,000 officers, the largest rapid recruitment drive ever undertaken by the Country.

To fast-track deployment, the President ordered all NYSC orientation camps to serve as temporary Police training depots, enabling thousands of recruits to begin immediate basic training. He also directed that withdrawn VIP Police escorts be retrained and deployed to high-risk zones, shifting manpower from private protection to frontline defence.

In a further escalation, Tinubu instructed the Department of State Services (DSS) to deploy its forest guard units immediately and recruit additional personnel to dismantle criminal enclaves hidden in Nigeria’s forests.

Reaffirming support for community-based security, Tinubu pledged Federal backing for States creating or strengthening their security outfits. He also urged the National Assembly to fast-track work on establishing State Police, calling it a necessary reform.

Addressing recurring farmer-herder clashes, Tinubu appealed to herders to end open grazing, adopt ranching, and surrender illegal weapons, warning that enforcement against arms proliferation will intensify.

The President paid tribute to victims of recent attacks and honoured fallen service members, including Brigadier-General Musa Uba, who was killed in action last week during an operation against terrorists.

Security analysts say the sweeping directives mark one of the strongest federal interventions yet as Nigeria confronts deepening insecurity.