Amidst the worsening security situation in the country, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, declared a security emergency and ordered the army and the police to recruit more personnel.
The President also told the National Assembly to begin the process of reviewing the law so as to allow states willing to establish state Police to do so.
President Tinubu in a statement he personally signed, directed the Department of State Services, DSS, to immediately deploy all the forest guards already trained to flush out the terrorists and bandits lurking in the nation’s forests.
He further stated that the agency has his directive to recruit more men to man the forests, warning that there will be no more hiding places for agents of evil.
Tinubu said: “Today, in view of the emerging security situation, I have decided to declare a nationwide security emergency and order additional recruitment into the Armed Forces.
“By this declaration, the police and the army are authorised to recruit more personnel. The police will recruit an additional 20,000 officers, bringing the total to 50,000.
“Although I had previously approved the nationwide upgrade of police training facilities, the police authorities are, by this statement, authorised to use various National Youth Service Corps camps as training depots.”
He directed that police officers withdrawn from Very Important Personalities, VIPs, guard duties should undergo crash training to debrief them and deliver more efficient police services when deployed to security-challenged areas of the country.
He said: “The DSS also has my authority to immediately deploy all the forest guards already trained to flush out the terrorists and bandits lurking in our forests. The agency also has my directive to recruit more men to man the forests. There will be no more hiding places for agents of evil.
“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 times require all hands on deck. As Nigerians, we should all get involved in securing our nation.”
President Tinubu commended security agencies for working together to secure the release of the 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi and the 38 worshippers in Kwara State.
Source: vanguargng