President Bola Tinubu has ordered an emergency response to Nigeria’s worsening security situation, directing the army and police to increase personnel and expand operations across the country, Vanguard reports. The move comes amid a surge in banditry, kidnappings, and violent attacks targeting communities and schools.

In Kogi State, a vigilante group in Aiyetoro Kiri, Kabba Bunu LGA, successfully thwarted an attempted invasion of Kiri High School, preventing the abduction of students. Meanwhile, Senator Seriake Dickson has urged that the President be given an accurate assessment of the nation’s security challenges, highlighting the urgency of coordinated action.

The Senate has also voiced concern over the security crisis, warning that the situation is approaching a state of collapse. Lawmakers called for harsher penalties for kidnappers, including the death penalty, to deter future attacks, The Guardian reports.

Amid the unrest, the First Lady of Kebbi State, Zainab Idris, appealed to parents not to withdraw their children from schools, following the release of students held captive for nine days, according to The Nation.

In other news, President Tinubu forwarded three ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening, The Punch adds.