Sir,
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, of a nationwide state of emergency over rising insecurity is a commendable and timely intervention. With banditry, terrorist attacks on schools, and assaults on places of worship intensifying in northern states such as Kebbi, Niger, and Kwara, this decisive step demonstrates the President’s commitment to addressing the worsening security situation across the North-West, North-East, and North-Central regions.
The directive is expected to boost the morale of our security personnel, provide additional funding for essential equipment, and ensure the prompt payment of salaries and allowances for new recruits. Among the key measures announced are the recruitment of 20,000 more officers to the Nigeria Police Force, raising its strength to 50,000, with NYSC camps repurposed for rapid training. The President also directed the Department of State Services to deploy forest-trained officers to combat bandits in woodland areas, while intensifying military operations in high-risk zones. Additionally, he urged the National Assembly to legislate for state police to enhance security at the state level.
This decisive action comes amid escalating terrorist activities that have stretched existing security forces. Prior to the declaration, the President had ordered the redeployment of police guards from VIPs to frontline duties and called for specialized training to improve effectiveness. These measures reflect a determined effort to exhaust all options in protecting the nation from criminals seeking division and territorial control.
While Nigerians have expressed mixed reactions, the prevailing view recognises and applauds the President’s proactive steps. Security analysts, including Bulama Bukarti, Ahmad Sajoh, and Ajayi Okasanmi, stress the need for genuine implementation, rejecting ransom payments to bandits, which embolden criminals and fund arms. National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu affirmed: “No more negotiations—the President’s directive ends bandit safe havens for good.” The government’s strategy emphasises national vigilance, urging citizens, communities, and religious leaders to report threats collaboratively.
Moreover, the establishment of specialized units, including forest-trained officers to flush out bandits, is commendable. I suggest that trained NYSC members and community vigilantes be integrated into these units for rapid deployment, with appointments strictly based on merit, avoiding political interference or corruption. On the matter of state police legislation, necessary safeguards must ensure governors do not misuse the force for political vendettas or suppression of ethnic groups.
In conclusion, President Tinubu’s decisive security intervention is a step in the right direction. With proper implementation, it can restore public confidence, protect lives and property, and send a clear message that Nigeria will no longer tolerate terrorism, banditry, or insecurity.
Abba Abubakar Yakubu, a multimedia journalist and public affairs analyst, writes from Jos, Plateau State