Nigerian President Tinubu announced a nationwide security emergency in Nigeria on Wednesday and ordered the recruitment of additional law enforcement personnel after more than 350 people were abducted in the past ten days.

"With this declaration, the police and the army are authorized to recruit more personnel. The police will recruit 20,000 additional officers, bringing their total number to 50,000," a statement from the president indicated.

Africa's most populous country has recently come under intense pressure following the unclaimed abductions of hundreds of people, including more than 300 students and teachers from a Catholic school in Papiri, Niger State (central-west), 25 Muslim schoolgirls in Maga, Kebbi State (northwest), 38 worshippers in a church in Eruku and ten others in Ispa, Kwara State (west), as well as 13 girls in Borno State (northeast).

The 25 high school girls from Maga, the 38 faithful and 50 students from Papiri have regained their freedom, but dozens of people are still missing.

"Nigeria's Internal Intelligence Service has also received my authorization to immediately deploy all already trained forest rangers to flush out terrorists and bandits hiding in our forests," Tinubu said.

"The agency has also been instructed to recruit more men to monitor the forests," the president added.

He recently reassigned police officers responsible for the security of dignitaries to essential policing duties; nearly a quarter of the force were protecting politicians and their families.

On Wednesday, Tinubu specified that these officers will have to undergo "intensive training in order to take stock" and "to ensure more effective policing services when deployed in areas of the country where security is compromised".

"Mosques and churches should systematically request protection from the police and other security forces when they gather for prayer, especially in vulnerable areas," the statement added.