Nigeria’s insecurity level remains high and deeply complex, marked by a stubborn surge in
kidnappings, terrorist insurgencies, and farmer-herder conflicts since 2023, which was the start
of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reign as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The nation currently ranks 4th globally on the Global Terrorism Index, with tens of thousands
of lives lost and over a million people displaced.
While most of the attacks before now had been in the North, for example,
In Kwara State, a devastating attack in early February resulted in the deaths of at least 100
people and widespread property destruction.
On March 16, 2026, multiple suicide attacks in the state capital killed at least 27 people and
injured over 100. The blasts targeted civilian areas and a facility near the University of
Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
There have been reports of Southern encroachment of terror, as reported in the May 2026
School Kidnapping, where heavily armed bandits/terrorists on motorcycles attacked multiple
schools (including Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and
Primary School) in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State. They killed an assistant
headmaster on the spot and abducted about 40 pupils and 7 teachers. One of the teachers, Mr.
Michael Oyedokun, was tragically beheaded in captivity These are simply bits of the cases of terror in Nigeria, as many believe they are underreported.
Further discussions suggest that these terror groups have surrounded Nigeria in ways that the
current armed forces (Army, Navy, Police, Air Force, etc.), in terms of number, cannot handle.
To this end, there is an urgent need to recruit large numbers of Nigerians to join the force of
their choice and fight for their motherland. This urgency was further confirmed in a statement
by the President,
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 authorized 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, authorized
to use various National Youth Service Corps camps as training depots.
The above mandate was delivered on the 26th of November, 2025 and to this day, the turnout
has been abysmal. In a bid to understand the cause of the low turnout, the Villa's
Communications Director has ordered an investigation. Preliminary reports suggest that most
Nigerians were not informed of the call to serve. Moreover, the few who were aware felt the
message offered nothing to persuade them to put their lives on the line for Nigeria. One
participant stated;
which wan be say make I go serve motherland? Wetin mother don do for me
like this? Abi God wan punish moda
Though the surface research and data seemed to emanate from a certain demographic, the
Director has asked for a retrial to inform Nigerians about the recruitment by curating a
campaign across relevant touchpoints that not only inform but also drive action, that is, signing
up for the armed forces.