Unprecedented attack on Christians plunges Nigeria into state of emergency

With a significant increase in kidnappings and attacks on Christians, Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency, ordered the immediate recruitment of 20,000 police officers and the clearing of forests by the National Guard.

According to official sources and media reports, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu declared a national security emergency on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, in response to a widespread wave of kidnappings and violent attacks against Christians and schools in the country.

The Nigerian government has been tasked with recruiting 20,000 new police officers to bring the total police force to 50,000, a move that is being seen not only to restore security but also to end what it calls a “safe haven for evil.”

National Youth Service Corps training camps were designated as military and educational centers for training new recruits. Security forces and forest guards were also tasked with launching massive operations to clear hideouts of armed groups and criminal gangs in the forests.

Police officers previously assigned to protect political figures and VIPs were called in and moved to high-risk areas. “There will be no more safe havens for evildoers,” Tinubu said in a statement.

Nigeria has seen several security crises in recent weeks. More than 300 students and staff were taken hostage in an attack on a Catholic school in Niger State, one of the largest mass kidnappings in the country's history. Earlier, 25 female students were kidnapped from a boarding school in Kebbi State.

Christians have also been targeted in churches and religious gatherings; a group of missionaries and worshippers were kidnapped after leaving a church. The kidnapping and violence crisis has been linked to sectarian and group violence. According to reports from organizations such as Open Doors, Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest number of threats to religious freedom.

Some Christian churches and institutions had previously warned of the "systematic targeting" of Christians and called for urgent action by the Nigerian government.

The response to this massive crisis in Nigeria has not been solely domestic. US President Donald Trump has called for strong international action, claiming an existential threat to Christians in Nigeria, a move that has heightened global attention to the situation in the country.

International Christian organizations such as International Christian Concern (ICC) immediately called for "urgent action" to release the hostages and ensure the security of churches and schools following the kidnapping of schoolchildren in Niger State.

In contrast, the Nigerian government has emphasized that the security crisis is a combination of "terrorism," "criminal gangs," and "tribal-ethnic conflicts" and not planned religious cleansing.

Tinubu's new decision could have short-term effects. Increasing police presence and focusing on forest areas could help break up gang hideouts and hostage-takers. However, security experts have warned that these measures are only part of the solution. Without reforming the judicial system, fighting corruption, closely monitoring new recruits, and pursuing cases seriously, the risk of attacks returning will remain high.

Moreover, superficial security may not last if the motivation and roots of the crisis, including tribal conflicts, poverty, social instability, and inequality, are not addressed.

The Nigerian president's declaration of a state of emergency, ordering the recruitment of 20,000 new police officers and the start of forest clearance, is a significant step in responding to the kidnapping crisis and attacks on Christian communities and schools. It could go some way to restoring public trust and providing a modicum of security.

But the reality is that Nigeria, with its complex history of sectarian violence, tribal conflicts, poverty, and weak governance structures, needs to combine security measures with deep structural reforms, justice, and sectarian dialogue to overcome this crisis. Only then can we expect to establish lasting security and peace on Nigerian soil.