Tinubu approves armed forest guard corps to reclaim forestlands from criminals, fortify national security

Nigeria President Bola Tinubu has taken the war against terrorism to their hideout with the approval of armed forest guards across the country.

President Tinubu said establishing the armed forest guard is a bold move to reclaim Nigeria’s vast forestlands from criminal elements and strengthen national security.

The initiative disclosed Wednesday night by the special adviser to president Tinubu on media and public communication, Sunday Dare, seeks to drive terrorists, kidnappers, and other criminal gangs out of Nigeria’s 1,129 forest zones, which have become notorious hideouts in recent years.

In a statement posted on his verified X handle (@SundayDareSD), said the new forest guard corps would be professionally trained and fully armed, and the federal and state governments would jointly undertake recruitment.

The implementation to be coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Federal Ministry of Environment is described as multi-layered security and environmental protection.

“The President directed that the forest guards be well-trained and armed to flush out terrorists and criminal gangs hiding in the forests,” Dare said. “The recruitment is a joint effort between federal and state governments, while ONSA and the Ministry of Environment will oversee full implementation.”

Thousands of young Nigerians are expected to be engaged under the programme, which aligns with the administration’s push to tackle unemployment while restoring peace to Nigeria’s rural and semi-urban communities.

President Tinubu reiterated his firm resolve not to allow any part of Nigeria to remain under the control of non-state actors, declaring that “no inch of Nigerian territory will be surrendered to criminals.”

And in reaction to the new security initiative, the Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) has called on President Bola Tinubu, the national security adviser, and relevant ministries to protect the newly revitalised Forest Guard from political meddling.

In a statement on Thursday, NCYP Chairman Isaac Abrak called on the federal government to safeguard the integrity of the security outfit, warning that it could be the country’s last line of defence against insecurity.

The NCYP stressed that recruitment into the Forest Guard must prioritise residents from Nigeria’s 1,129 forest areas.

“Their familiarity with the terrain gives them a unique advantage in combating criminal elements,” Abrak said, insisting that a transparent and depoliticised recruitment process is critical to the initiative’s success.

It cautioned against turning the Forest Guard into a tool for political patronage or enlisting individuals with questionable backgrounds.

The NCYP urged the government to involve community leaders and security agencies, such as the Department of State Services (DSS), in vetting candidates thoroughly to ensure that only those committed to protecting their communities should be recruited.

It said during training, recruits must be instilled with values of patriotism, discipline, and national unity.
The group commended President Tinubu for fulfilling his promise to revitalise the Forest Guard, a key campaign issue for the NCYP across northern Nigeria.

“We are grateful that this vision is being realised,” Abrak said.

Meanwhile, Arewa Think Tank, a Northern group has noted that President Bola Tinubu’s recent approval of the establishment of armed forest guards to secure the nation’s forests against terrorism shows that the President is creative, in full charge of the country, and has a large heart for the well-being of the citizenry.

In a statement, ATT convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, said President Tinubu’s bold step was unprecedented in Nigeria’s history.

Yakubu also called on all the state governors to emulate President Tinubu and work together to rid the country of terrorists and their nefarious activities.

“We are excited following the approval given by President Bola Tinubu for the establishment of armed forest guards to secure Nigeria’s 1,129 forests from terrorists and criminal gangs.

“We must say with the air of pride and satisfaction that we now have a President who is very close to the people, who does not detach himself from the people he is governing, who is feeling the pulse of the nation and providing remedy to it.

“We must also say that Mr. President’s move is unprecedented and creative. We urge him to keep it up for the benefit of the people,” he said.

Arewa Think Tank called for care in recruiting the operatives of the new security outfit.

“We therefore advise that recruiting these guards should be a collaborative security effort between the federal and state governments…

“Once again, we want to use this opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to support Tinubu’s government in whichever way possible so that Nigeria as a nation can take back its forests from the terrorists,” the statement said.