Nigeria’s Security Emergency Requires More Than Personnel Recruitment
Nigeria’s escalating insecurity demands urgent action that goes beyond a national emergency declaration. Long-standing weaknesses in the country’s security sector continue to undermine its ability to prevent violence and protect citizens.
On 26 November, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a national security emergency, ordering the recruitment of additional security personnel and implementing other measures aimed at curbing the rising threats. This announcement came amid increasing pressure following violent incidents, including Boko Haram attacks and mass kidnappings by bandits, with violence spreading into previously unaffected areas such as Kwara State.
The declaration also followed claims by former U.S. President Donald Trump on 21 November that Nigeria has lost control of its security and is allowing a Christian genocide. Nigerian authorities and experts have rejected these claims as an oversimplification of a complex security situation.
While the emergency declaration is a positive step, it must address structural issues that have long hindered effective responses to violence. Tinubu directed the Nigeria Police Force to recruit an additional 20,000 officers, increasing the 2025 recruitment plan to 50,000. However, this still falls short of the 190,000 personnel recommended by Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun in 2023. The current police force numbers around 370,000 members.
The president also instructed the army to recruit more personnel, although specific numbers were not provided. Earlier, Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu announced plans to recruit 24,000 soldiers.
To address understaffed security outposts covering vast and inaccessible regions, Tinubu ordered VIP-guard police officers to undergo rapid retraining and be redeployed to areas affected by insecurity. He also tasked the Department of State Services (DSS) with deploying trained forest guards to tackle bandits and terrorists. Additionally, he requested the National Assembly to amend the 2020 Nigeria Police Act to allow for the creation of independent state police forces.
Despite these measures, recent attacks highlight persistent intelligence, operational, and capacity gaps. On 18 November, armed bandits abducted over two dozen students in Kebbi State. Reports indicate that although the DSS had shared intelligence and military forces were deployed, they withdrew before the attack, allowing the kidnappers to strike.
A few days later, on 21 November, more than 300 students and staff were abducted from St Mary’s School in Niger State, marking the worst mass abduction since 2020. Families had reportedly requested protection from police and other security services before the attack. These incidents reveal the vulnerability of communities and schools due to overstretched security forces.
Boko Haram’s 15 November ambush in Borno State, which led to the killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba and four other security personnel, further exposed gaps in intelligence, surveillance, and operational coordination. Limited human intelligence, inadequate technological support, and poor communication contributed to the failure of security forces to prevent the attacks.
The challenging terrain of the Lake Chad Basin, including forests, mountains, and islands, also provides insurgents with hideouts, while some Boko Haram factions have begun using modified drones and other technologies to enhance their operations.
Experts argue that Nigeria’s security strategy must go beyond emergency declarations and recruitment drives. Investments are urgently needed in modern intelligence systems, technological tools for surveillance, and secure communication networks. Strengthening relations with local communities in affected regions is also crucial, as human intelligence is vital for detecting, disrupting, and preventing terrorist and bandit attacks.
