Nigeria declares security emergency after mass kidnappings, boosts police

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency and announced sweeping measures to address escalating violence and kidnappings across Africa's most populous nation. The president revealed a major police expansion plan while urging collective national action against security threats that have recently included mass abductions of schoolchildren.

Major Police Expansion Initiative

In a statement issued from the State House and shared on social media platform X, President Tinubu authorized the recruitment of 20,000 new police officers, supplementing his Sunday approval for 30,000 additional personnel. The president also approved using National Youth Service Corps camps as temporary training facilities and ordered officers withdrawn from VIP protection duties to undergo retraining for deployment to high-risk areas. Tinubu declared, "My fellow Nigerians, this is a national emergency, and we are responding by deploying more boots on the ground, especially in security-challenged areas."

Comprehensive Security Measures

The emergency declaration includes directives for Nigeria's Department of State Services to deploy trained forest guards to clear terrorists from woodland areas. Tinubu called on the National Assembly to review legislation that would permit states to establish their own police forces where necessary. The president also urged local authorities and religious institutions to enhance their security arrangements while encouraging citizens to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies, stating "We are in this fight together, and together we shall win."

Context of Recent Security Crises

The security emergency follows last week's abduction of more than 300 students from a Catholic school in north-central Niger State, highlighting the severe challenges facing Africa's largest economy. The announcement also comes amid international attention on Nigeria's security situation, including recent comments from US President Donald Trump threatening potential military action over alleged killings of Christians, claims which Nigerian authorities have strongly rejected as misrepresenting the country's complex security reality.