In a bold move to reclaim Nigeria’s vast forests from terrorists and criminal syndicates, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given a firm directive for the immediate establishment and deployment of a new, well-equipped forest guard unit across the country. The new outfit, which will span all of Nigeria’s 1,129 officially recognized forests, is designed to flush out criminal elements who have used these areas as hideouts to perpetrate kidnappings, banditry, and insurgent attacks.
According to a high-level directive from the Presidency, the forest guards will be trained to operate with tactical precision and will be adequately armed to engage and neutralize threats wherever they arise. This initiative forms part of a broader security collaboration between the federal government and state authorities to tackle the growing menace of terrorism, especially in forested regions that have become sanctuaries for violent non-state actors.
President Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring that not a single inch of Nigerian territory remains in the grip of criminal gangs. He emphasized that the Nigerian state will assert its sovereignty in every corner of the country, particularly the forests that have served as strategic operational bases for insurgents, armed bandits, and kidnappers in recent years.
To fast-track the deployment of this initiative, the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Federal Ministry of Environment have been jointly tasked with overseeing the recruitment, training, and deployment of the forest guards. Their mandate includes full implementation and coordination with other security agencies to ensure a seamless operation.
Thousands of young Nigerians are expected to be recruited into the new force, offering both a response to rising unemployment and a strategic boost to national security. Observers note that this initiative is timely, especially in light of recent intelligence reports linking forested regions to high-profile abductions and arms smuggling routes.
President Tinubu’s tough stance against insecurity comes amid renewed efforts to reassert federal authority over ungoverned spaces, a campaign that security experts say could prove decisive in turning the tide against terrorism in Nigeria.
By targeting these often-overlooked territories, the government aims not only to restore law and order but also to make rural and agrarian communities safe once again, enabling farmers and displaced persons to return to their livelihoods without fear of attacks.
This sweeping move, analysts believe, is a significant pivot in Nigeria’s fight against internal threats and a strong message to enemies of the state that the era of impunity in the nation’s forests is coming to an end.
