By Yakubu Uba, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

When the night is darkest, the stars shine brightest,” says a Nigerian proverb.

The time is ripe, the need is dire, and Nigeria is finally turning the tide on the relentless assault of non‑state actors that have haunted its North‑East, North‑Central and North‑West.

Amid a surge of insurgent attacks, bandit raids and kidnappings that have scarred these parts of the nation, President Bola Tinubu has declared a national security emergency and ordered a hard‑line, “no‑hide‑out” offensive.

Tinubu has already directed service chiefs and intelligence heads to intensify the crackdown on insecurity and deliver more efficient results nationwide.

He also gave the directive for withdrawal of security personnel from VIPs and the employment of more military and police personnel while declaring a security emergency to contain the security situation.

“The DSS also has my authority to immediately deploy all the forest guards already trained to flush out the terrorists and bandits lurking in our forests.

“The agency also has my directive to recruit more men to man the forests. There will be no more hiding places for agents of evil,” Tinubu declared.

He also declared support to state governments that set up security outfits to safeguard their people, and urged the National Assembly to begin reviewing laws to allow states that require state police to establish them.

The appointment of the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, retired Gen Christopher Musa as Minister of Defence with new service chiefs signified a formidable pack that Nigerians hope can deliver in line with the President directives.

Also, as the clock ticks toward a peaceful yuletide, all eyes are on the service chiefs and the newly appointed defence minister with his promise to trade road‑checkpoints for bush‑bound operations.

This is the moment Nigeria has been waiting for, when decisive action meets the urgent need to restore safety, confidence and hope across the country.

Nigerians expect Musa and his men to hit the ground running to ensure a peaceful yuletide celebration across the country as a useful starting point of a major kinetic approach that will be sustained for the desired lasting solution to the security challenges.

Remnants of the terrorists that refused to surrender must be made to understand the consequences.

That’s the only way to restore the confidence of Nigerians and the outside world that’s watching development in Nigeria.

Many security experts described the latest measures by the Tinubu administration as a welcome development but insisted that there must be commitment and political will by all stakeholders for maximum results.

Ahmad Sajoh, a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Adamawa state, said the measure taken was long overdue.

“A national emergency on security is long overdue. A lot of us have advocated for it several times. It is a step in the right direction.

“The recruitment of additional policemen, forest guards and giving legal framework for State Police will surely bridge the gap in the existence of ungoverned spaces across the country especially the vast lands of the North.

“However, all these measures cannot achieve much if not backed by political will and use of modern technology”, Sajoh said.

He cautioned the Government on negotiating with non-state actors or treating them with kid gloves where there’s no critical need for that.

“We know they use human shields. We know the government is afraid of collateral damage. Yet, they need to be eliminated, not treated to a negotiated settlement,” Sajoh said.

According to him, the ongoing isolated negotiations with bandits by some communities in the north should be discouraged.

”This is because it’s not just a capitulation to the bandits but an open admittance that the government lacks the capacity to protect its citizens.

“That is a dangerous narrative that should not be allowed to gain momentum within the public space. The government must address this issue urgently.

“Both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches could be applied but greater emphasis should be placed on use of force.

”It’s the only language that can give confidence to the citizens that the government has the power to protect them,” Sajoh said.

Also speaking through his Facebook page, a security analyst, Bulama Bukarti, expressed satisfaction with Tinubu’s declaration and urged for sustained action.

“I’m pleased to hear that President Tinubu has declared a National Security Emergency. But this must go beyond a symbolic announcement.

“It should be followed by decisive, sustained action to degrade the repugnant armed groups wreaking havoc across our country.

“What we need now is a radical overhaul of our security strategy – one that empowers and mandates our forces to take the fight directly to these terrorists in their enclaves.

“That is the only way to stop them from attacking our schools, places of worship and other civilian spaces. It is the only path to defeating them,” Bukarti said.

On his part, the new minister of defence had during his screening at the National Assembly promised to escalate action against the enemies through a series of measures including withdrawing soldiers from road checkpoints and redeploying them into the bush to confront terrorists.

While assuming office at the Ministry of Defence, Musa vowed to lead with urgency, accountability and a renewed sense of national purpose.

Outlining his vision for the defence ministry, Musa laid out three core pillars: operational effectiveness, unified action across services, and strategic foresight.

He pledged a rigorous review of all theatre commands and inter-service operations to eliminate silos, adding that once decisions were taken, they should move as one united team.

The new minister pointed to technology and intelligence as vital components of Nigeria’s defence architecture, promising to tap on partnerships with allies and strengthen coordination with other security agencies.

“The shedding of innocent blood is over. Citizens have a right to live without fear. Our children should be able to go back to school. The farmers should be able to go back to their farms,” he said.

Also the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council in their emergency latest meeting in Kaduna endorsed measures taken by Tinubu to address the security challenges.

Chairman of the Forum, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa of Gombe State, who read the communique of the forum, urged States and National Assemblies to expedite action in passing the bill for state police.

One thing certain from all stakeholders is that there must be change in the way the security challenges are being handled for positive results.

Tinubu has already told the military while addressing troops during a visit to Katsina that the fight is about the soul of Nigeria.

“This is a defining moment in our history; let the enemies of Nigeria know – their time is up; the fight you are waging is not just for territory but for the soul of Nigeria,” the Commander in Chief stressed.