French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly declared France’s unwavering solidarity with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu as Nigeria reels under mounting security challenges, especially the growing terrorist threat in the North.
The revelation came in a post on Macron’s verified X account on Sunday, in which he disclosed he had personally spoken with Tinubu.
Macron wrote, “I spoke with President Tinubu of Nigeria @officialABAT. I expressed France’s solidarity with him in the face of various security challenges, particularly the terrorist threat in the North.
“At his request, we will strengthen our partnership with the authorities and our support for the affected populations. We call on all our partners to mobilize.”
“No one should remain a bystander,” the statement added.
Sunday’s call from Paris comes at a time when Nigeria has declared a national state of emergency, after yet another wave of mass kidnappings, attacks on communities and churches, and surging violence across its northern and central regions.
Tinubu had declared a nationwide emergency following two mass abductions of schoolchildren and a spate of attacks against civilians.
Tinubu said the government will recruit 20,000 additional police officers, raising the total to 50,000. He also authorized the intelligence service to deploy forest guards to protect remote areas from armed groups.
“My fellow Nigerians, this is a national emergency, and we are responding by deploying more boots on the ground, especially in security-challenged areas,” he said in a statement. The constitution allows the president to declare emergency during national crises.
Recent attacks by armed groups and threats from U.S. President Donald Trump have heaped pressure on Nigeria. Last week, gunmen took 25 students in Kebbi state and more than 300 in Niger state.
Those abducted from Kebbi were rescued and united with their parents, while there is an ongoing search for the others.
Trump’s claims of persecution of Christians and threat of “guns-a-blazing” intervention have highlighted the critical security crises in the country.
Tinubu also called for enhanced protection in schools, churches and mosques in remote areas to deter attacks. Analysts say Tinubu’s plan for more boots on the ground may not be enough to reverse the tide of insecurity.
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