In a bold move to strengthen national security, President Bola Tinubu has authorized the formation of an armed forest guard unit aimed at reclaiming Nigeria’s forests from criminal elements.
According to a report by SaharaReporters, the security initiative, which targets the country’s 1,129 forest reserves, is designed to tackle terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping operations that rely on the vast, largely ungoverned forested areas.
The new force will be composed of specially trained and armed personnel tasked with flushing out terrorists and gangs who exploit the terrain to evade capture.
The deployment represents a coordinated effort between federal and state governments, with the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Ministry of Environment assigned to lead its implementation.
Thousands of young Nigerians are expected to be recruited into the new outfit, offering a dual benefit of enhanced security and job creation.
Reaffirming his administration’s security priorities, President Tinubu declared, “No part of Nigeria’s territory would be ceded to terrorists or bandits.”
He further stated his administration’s resolve to push back against violent non-state actors, adding, “Nigeria will take back its forests.”
