• President Bola Tinubu declares a nationwide security emergency due to mass kidnappings.
• Orders recruitment of 50,000 additional police personnel to enhance security.
• Highlights a significant rise in kidnappings, particularly affecting children and school communities.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency on November 26, addressing a surge in mass kidnappings that have seen hundreds abducted in a short span. "This is a national emergency, and we are responding by deploying more boots on the ground, especially in security-challenged areas," Tinubu stated. He noted that recent incidents included the abduction of 25 schoolgirls and over 300 schoolchildren across various regions, with many still missing from their schools in Niger state, as reported by Le Monde and Reuters.

To tackle the escalating violence, Tinubu authorized the recruitment of an additional 50,000 police officers. This includes the initial 30,000 already approved and a further 20,000, raising the total strength significantly to enhance operational capacities against armed groups that have long troubled the nation. He also ordered the redeployment of officers from VIP protection duties back into essential policing roles to support these initiatives, according to South China Morning Post and Africa News.

Furthermore, President Tinubu directed security forces to undertake offensive operations against armed groups hiding in forests, suggesting a multifaceted strategy to address the crisis. He emphasized the importance of flushing out these groups to eliminate their capabilities to launch further attacks. "There will be no more hiding places for agents of evil," he asserted, highlighting the urgency of the situation Reuters and Africa News.

These recent actions follow a series of violent incidents across Nigeria's central and northern regions, where mass abductions have become increasingly common. The crisis escalated after historical patterns of kidnappers seeking ransoms and has been bolstered by extensive reports highlighting the severity of the issue over the past years. According to security experts, the last 12 months witnessed at least 4,722 kidnappings in almost 1,000 incidents, underscoring a troubling trend. These developments have drawn international attention, particularly as President Tinubu's administration faces scrutiny regarding its response to security and humanitarian issues South China Morning Post and Africa News.