In a nationwide broadcast, Tinubu announced that the Nigeria Police Force will recruit an additional 20,000 officers, raising its operational strength to 50,000. He also approved the use of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps as temporary training centres, alongside an order that police officers currently assigned to VIP protection be withdrawn, retrained and redeployed to critical conflict zones.
The president further authorised the Department of State Services (DSS) to deploy newly trained forest guards and hire additional personnel to dismantle armed groups hiding in forested areas. “There will be no more hiding places for agents of evil,” Tinubu declared.
The move comes in the wake of renewed attacks in Kebbi, Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Yobe and Kwara states, where several civilians were killed or abducted. Tinubu commended the security agencies for recent operations that led to the rescue of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi and 38 worshippers in Kwara, while assuring that efforts were underway to free all remaining hostages, including students kidnapped in Niger State.
Tinubu urged the National Assembly to accelerate the review of laws enabling states to establish their own police forces. He also called on religious institutions to prioritise security during gatherings and urged herder organisations to adopt ranching practices and surrender illegal weapons as part of broader peace efforts.
“I sympathise with families who lost loved ones and pay tribute to our brave soldiers, including Brigadier-General Musa Uba,” Tinubu said. “Those who want to test our resolve must not mistake our restraint for weakness.”
Nigeria continues to battle security threats ranging from terrorism and banditry to deadly communal conflicts, which have claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions over the years.
