President Bola Tinubu has officially declared a nationwide security emergency across Nigeria, responding to persistent attacks by gunmen in various regions. This declaration comes with significant directives aimed at bolstering the nation's security architecture, emphasizing increased personnel, enhanced training, and strategic deployments to restore peace and stability.

As part of this urgent response, President Tinubu has authorized both the police and the army to initiate massive recruitment drives. The police are specifically tasked with recruiting an additional 20,000 officers, which will bring their total strength to 50,000. Furthermore, the president has granted authority for the immediate deployment of all already-trained forest guards by the Department of State Services (DSS) to flush out terrorists and bandits from the nation's forests. The DSS is also directed to recruit more personnel to effectively man these forested areas, ensuring that there are no longer any hiding places for criminal elements.

To facilitate the increased recruitment and improve operational efficiency, President Tinubu has approved the nationwide upgrade of police training facilities. In an immediate measure, police authorities are now authorized to utilize various National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps as training depots. Additionally, officers currently engaged in Very Important Person (VIP) guard duties are to be withdrawn and undergo crash training. This debriefing and retraining will prepare them for more efficient police services when deployed to security-challenged areas across the country, optimizing personnel allocation for critical national security needs.

Beyond direct security force enhancements, the administration is committed to implementing broader policy changes and support mechanisms. President Tinubu affirmed his administration's pledge to support state governments that have established their own security outfits to protect their citizens. He has also urged the National Assembly to promptly review the nation's laws to enable states requiring state police to establish them. Furthermore, the president advised states to reconsider establishing boarding schools in remote areas without adequate security provisions and encouraged mosques and churches, especially in vulnerable areas, to consistently seek police and other security protection during gatherings.

Addressing the root causes of conflict, President Tinubu highlighted the creation of the Livestock Ministry by his administration to tackle the persistent clashes between herders and farmers. He called upon all herder associations to leverage this ministry, cease open grazing practices, and surrender illegal weapons, emphasizing that ranching is now the designated path forward for sustainable livestock farming and fostering national harmony. The Federal Government, in collaboration with the states, is committed to resolving this long-standing issue comprehensively.

The president took a moment to commend the collaborative efforts of security agencies, which led to the successful rescue of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi and 38 worshippers in Kwara State. He reiterated the administration's unwavering commitment to sustaining efforts to rescue the remaining students of the Catholic School in Niger State and other Nigerians still being held hostage. President Tinubu also paid tribute to the brave soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice, including Brigadier-General Musa Uba, while extending his sympathies to the families who have lost loved ones in recent attacks across Kebbi, Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Yobe, and Kwara states.

In a direct message to the leadership and rank and file of the Armed Forces, President Tinubu charged them to remain resolute, restore peace across all theatres of operation, and uphold the highest standards of discipline and integrity, stressing that there must be no compromise, no collusion, and no negligence. He assured them of his administration's full support. To the Nigerian populace, the president conveyed a strong message of resolve, stating that his administration possesses the courage and determination to keep the country safe and ensure citizens live in peace. He warned those who might test the nation's resolve not to mistake restraint for weakness. Urging Nigerians not to succumb to fear or despair, he called for collective unity and strength to defend the nation's freedom and values. He implored all citizens to remain calm and vigilant, report suspicious activities, and cooperate with security agencies, affirming that