In a televised address, Tinubu said the Nigeria Police Force will recruit 20,000 additional officers, raising its operational strength to 50,000, and announced that National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps will be converted into training centres. He also directed the withdrawal of officers from VIP protection duties for redeployment to frontline communities after accelerated retraining.
The president granted the Department of State Services (DSS) approval to deploy trained forest guards and hire more staff to clear armed groups operating from remote forest areas.
“There will be no more hiding places for agents of evil,” Tinubu said, urging coordinated national action to contain attacks that have recently struck Kebbi, Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Yobe and Kwara states, where dozens of civilians were killed or abducted.
Tinubu commended security agencies for rescuing 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi and 38 worshippers in Kwara, and pledged to secure all remaining hostages, including students kidnapped in Niger state. “Those who want to test our resolve should never mistake our restraint for weakness,” he added.
He called on parliament to review legislation to allow states to establish their own police forces and urged religious institutions to seek security support during major gatherings. Tinubu further appealed to herder associations to embrace ranching practices, surrender illegal weapons and help reduce clashes with farming communities.
Nigeria continues to face multiple security threats, including attacks by armed groups, rural banditry and communal violence, which have claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions in recent years.