ABUJA, November 26, 2025 – In a decisive response to the surging tide of banditry, kidnappings, and armed attacks across Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency on Wednesday, authorizing the immediate recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers—bringing the total planned intake this year to 50,000—and directing the Nigerian Army to expand its forces similarly. The move, announced in a personal statement from the State House, also backs the establishment of state police through constitutional amendments, while issuing a stark ultimatum to herders to surrender illegal arms and transition to ranching.
Tinubu’s address comes amid a wave of devastating incidents, including the recent abduction and rescue of 24 schoolgirls from a government school in Kebbi State, the kidnapping of 38 worshippers from a Christ Apostolic Church branch in Eruku, Kwara State, and ongoing assaults in Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Yobe, and other hotspots that have claimed dozens of lives and displaced thousands. “Today, in view of the emerging security situation, I have decided to declare a nationwide security emergency and order additional recruitment into the Armed Forces,” Tinubu stated, emphasizing the need for “more boots on the ground” to restore order.
The President explicitly rejected any form of negotiation with bandits or terrorists, vowing a “total war” on crime. “There will be no more hiding places for agents of evil,” he declared, authorizing the Department of State Services (DSS) to deploy all trained forest guards to root out insurgents and criminals from forested hideouts, with directives to recruit further personnel for these operations. Officers currently assigned to VIP protection duties will be withdrawn, undergo crash retraining, and redeployed to high-risk areas, with National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps repurposed as training facilities to accelerate the process.
On the contentious issue of herder-farmer clashes, Tinubu highlighted the newly created Ministry of Livestock Development as a key intervention, urging herder associations to “end open grazing and surrender illegal weapons.” He stressed that “ranching is now the path forward for sustainable livestock farming and national harmony,” with the federal government committing to collaborate with states on implementation. The President also called on local authorities, religious leaders, and communities to bolster vigilance and intelligence-sharing, while expressing sympathy to affected families and paying tribute to fallen security personnel, including Brigadier-General Musa Uba.
In parallel, Tinubu pressed the National Assembly to initiate constitutional reviews enabling states to form their own police forces where deemed necessary, a long-debated reform aimed at decentralizing security amid criticisms of the centralized system’s overstretched resources. “Those who want to test our resolve should never mistake our restraint for weakness,” he warned, underscoring the administration’s commitment to national unity and citizen safety.
Senate Echoes Crackdown: Kidnapping and Banditry Now Terrorism, Death Penalty Imposed
Hours after Tinubu’s declaration, the Nigerian Senate convened an emergency plenary, unanimously classifying kidnapping and banditry as acts of terrorism under the Terrorism (Prevention) Act. Lawmakers resolved to amend the legislation to impose a mandatory death penalty for all convictions related to these offenses, with no option for fines, judicial reductions, or overturns. “All laws relating to kidnapping should be classified as terrorism and should have a maximum death penalty, and no judge should overturn or reduce the sentence without any option of fine,” the resolution stated, marking one of the chamber’s most forceful security stances to date.
The decision followed heated debates triggered by recent atrocities, including the Kebbi schoolgirls’ abduction—where credible reports suggested security forces withdrew shortly before the attack—and the Eruku church raid that killed two and left 36 still in captivity at the time of the session. Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the incidents as “organized attacks aimed at destabilizing Nigeria’s democracy,” while Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) insisted, “Kidnapping must be branded a terrorist act and must carry the death penalty. Let’s look inwards and get it right.”
Beyond penalties, the Senate urged the federal government to intensify joint operations involving the Army, Police, DSS, and Defence Intelligence Bureau, incorporating aerial surveillance, cross-state collaboration, and community intelligence networks. It also called for immediate reconstruction of banditry-prone federal highways to enhance mobility and response times, and directed the Ministry of Works to prioritize these efforts.
In a controversial recommendation, the upper chamber advised reviewing Nigeria’s firearms laws to align with practices in “over 175 countries where responsible citizens are permitted to own guns,” explicitly urging citizens to arm themselves for self-defense. This measure, coupled with calls to strengthen registered vigilante groups through federal funding, aims to empower communities against “existential threats,” as described by Senator Sadiq Umar (Kwara North). The Senate further demanded an end to ransom payments, the exposure of negotiation facilitators, and a one-minute silence for victims, reaffirming support for Tinubu’s overhaul.
Atiku Abubakar Slams Government Over Kebbi Negotiations
The sweeping measures drew sharp criticism on X (formerly Twitter) from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who accused the Tinubu administration of hypocrisy in handling the Kebbi schoolgirls’ crisis. In a post late Tuesday, Atiku lambasted the government for “celebrating negotiations with terrorists” to secure the girls’ release, contrasting it with Tinubu’s fresh anti-negotiation rhetoric. “While the administration now preaches ‘total war,’ it was quick to negotiate ransoms and deals with the very bandits it vows to crush. This flip-flopping erodes trust and emboldens criminals,” Atiku wrote, tagging the post with hashtags calling for accountability. His remarks, which garnered thousands of engagements, highlighted the bandits’ own video boasts of receiving payments and concessions, fueling public outrage over perceived inconsistencies in security policy.
As Nigeria grapples with over 1,000 security personnel shortfalls in key units—compared to Egypt’s 1.5 million-strong force, as noted by Senator Issa Jibrin (Kogi East)—experts warn that manpower alone won’t suffice without upgraded equipment, better intelligence tracking via the National Security Adviser and Communications Ministry, and holistic reforms. Tinubu concluded his address with a plea for national unity: “Cooperate with security agencies. We are in this fight together, and together we shall win.”
The declarations signal a potential turning point, but implementation will be closely watched amid ongoing rescues, including pledges to free remaining Niger State school abductees. For now, the emergency mobilization offers a glimmer of resolve in a nation weary from years of unrelenting violence.
Tinubu Declares National Security Emergency Amid Escalating Violence; Senate Mandates Death Penalty for Kidnappers
