President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday declared a nationwide security emergency, directing the military, police and intelligence agencies to immediately expand recruitment and deploy thousands of additional personnel across the country. According to Nivo News, the President also urged the National Assembly to initiate legislative steps toward establishing state police in response to the escalating surge of abductions and terrorist attacks recorded over the past week.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

However, the development sparked rare pushback from both chambers of the National Assembly, where several lawmakers openly criticised the Federal Government’s engagement with bandits in recent hostage situations in Kwara and Kebbi states. They insisted that the negotiations embolden criminal networks and demanded sanctions for the official who allegedly authorised the withdrawal of troops from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, shortly before 24 students were abducted on November 17.

The recent wave of attacks saw bandits invade St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, where more than 300 pupils and 12 teachers were taken, just days after the Kebbi school raid in which the vice principal, Hasan Makuku, was killed, and the principal injured. Another attack on a church in Kwara State left two worshippers dead and 38 others abducted before their eventual release. The spate of kidnappings prompted the closure of numerous schools across several northern states and triggered a shutdown of 41 Federal Unity Colleges nationwide.

Presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga defended the government’s approach, insisting that negotiations were used to ensure the safety of captives and dismissing claims that ransom payments were involved. He explained that security forces refrained from storming the bandits’ hideouts due to fears the abducted victims were being used as human shields. Lawmakers, however, rejected his argument, warning that the country was on the brink of a total security collapse.

The Senate witnessed heated debate as members expressed concerns that Nigeria was under coordinated attack. While some lawmakers commended the rescue of victims, they questioned why no terrorists were neutralised and raised alarms over reports that soldiers withdrew from the Kebbi school before the raid. Calls for foreign assistance, restructuring of national security systems, and even the death penalty for kidnappers dominated the discussions.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio decried intelligence failures and alleged internal sabotage within the security architecture, warning against turning the crisis into a religious or sectarian narrative. Senator Adams Oshiomhole urged a thorough investigation into the troop withdrawal in Kebbi, insisting that whoever authorised it should face terrorism charges.

A coalition of House of Representatives members from all six geopolitical zones also condemned the Federal Government’s negotiations with criminal groups. In a statement titled ‘FG’s secret negotiations with bandits are a betrayal of the Nigerian people,’ the lawmakers accused the administration of legitimising criminals, weakening state authority and endangering the public. According to Nivo News, they warned that global examples—from Colombia to Mexico, Afghanistan, Somalia and Mali—show that negotiating with violent non-state actors only fuels further violence.

Similarly, the African Democratic Congress criticised the Federal Government for what it described as “opaque” handling of the recent releases, accusing the administration of withholding vital information. The party said inconsistent statements from top officials suggested active negotiations with insurgents, and it warned that the approach risked expanding the banditry economy. The ADC also condemned recent school closures, arguing that the move portrays the government as incapable of protecting students.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar joined the chorus of criticism, faulting the Federal Government’s claims of “triumphant” negotiations with the bandits. He questioned why security forces did not arrest or eliminate the criminals if they were truly tracked, accusing the government of celebrating dialogue with terrorists rather than dismantling them.

Announcing new measures, President Tinubu authorised the Nigeria Police Force to recruit an additional 20,000 officers, raising ongoing recruitment figures to 50,000. He also approved the temporary use of National Youth Service Corps camps as police training depots and ordered police officers withdrawn from VIP security duties to undergo crash training before deployment to high-risk areas. The President further mandated the Department of State Services to deploy all trained forest guards and recruit more personnel to flush out criminal elements hiding in remote areas.

Tinubu urged nationwide vigilance and assured Nigerians that the government’s emergency response would restore peace. He encouraged states to review boarding school locations, advised religious institutions to seek security protection, and reaffirmed support for state police initiatives. The President also reiterated the need for herders to embrace ranching under the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.

In Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun declared that the creation of state police was now non-negotiable, noting that recent attacks proved no region was insulated from insecurity. At a meeting of the Southern Governors’ Forum, he emphasised the importance of decentralised policing and regional cooperation to strengthen intelligence gathering and protect critical infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police Force inaugurated a joint ad-hoc committee to commence the recruitment of 30,000 new officers, following the presidential directive. The initiative aims to enhance national security and improve the police-to-citizen ratio through a transparent, merit-based recruitment process.

In the Federal Capital Territory, the Police Commissioner, Miller Dantawaye, disclosed that security agencies have launched an aggressive intelligence network with schools across Abuja under the relaunched Operation Sweep to prevent kidnappings and other violent crimes.

Tragedy also struck families of abducted students in Niger State, where two parents reportedly died from shock and illness following the kidnapping of their children. The Christian Association of Nigeria confirmed the deaths, expressing grief over the humanitarian toll caused by the continuing attacks.

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