Confronted by a deteriorating kidnapping crisis, President Bola Tinubu has ordered a massive overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, declaring the current wave of insecurity a “national emergency.”
In a sweeping directive issued on Wednesday, the President authorized the immediate recruitment of an additional 20,000 security personnel. This new intake is in addition to the 30,000 recruits already approved, bringing the total reinforcement target to 50,000 officers.
“More Boots on the Ground”
The administration stated that the surge in manpower is critical to overwhelming criminal elements in volatile regions.
“My fellow Nigerians, this is a national emergency, and we are responding by deploying more boots on the ground, especially in security-challenged areas,” the Presidency affirmed.
VIP Protection Stripped
To further boost operational strength, President Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers currently assigned to protect public figures, politicians, and celebrities. These officers are to be redeployed to frontline duties to protect the general populace.
This directive addresses a long-standing structural imbalance in the force. Estimates suggest that nearly 100,000 officers—roughly a third of the nation’s entire police strength are currently attached to private guard duties for the elite, leaving ordinary citizens vulnerable.
Forest Rangers Given Offensive Mandate
The security overhaul extends beyond the police. The President has also authorized forest rangers to undertake offensive military-style operations.
This mandate aims to flush out armed groups, locally known as bandits, who have used the country’s vast forest reserves as safe havens for over a decade. These ungoverned spaces in the central and northern provinces often serve as staging grounds for deadly attacks and ransom kidnappings.
A Crisis Point
The urgency of these measures follows the abduction of 303 children from the remote community of Papiri last Friday. While 50 of the students have since made a daring escape, the mass seizure has reignited national outrage and fear.
The resurgence of school abductions comes amidst heightened diplomatic tension. The Trump administration in the United States continues to pressure Abuja to act against what it terms the persecution of Christians an allegation the Nigerian government staunchly denies, attributing the violence to criminal banditry rather than religious targeting.
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