To address the growing insecurity nationwide, President Bola Tinubu has sanctioned the launch of a national forest guard scheme and directed the hiring of more than 130,000 armed personnel to safeguard Nigeria’s 1,129 forest reserves.

This initiative, which received approval at Monday’s expanded Federal Executive Council meeting, requires each state to engage between 2,000 and 5,000 forest guards, depending on their individual capacity.

The responsibility for overseeing recruitment and training lies with the Office of the National Security Adviser alongside the Ministry of Environment.

Estimating around 3,500 recruits per state, the total number of forest guards to be deployed—including those in the Federal Capital Territory—would exceed 130,000.

Each state will be required to hire between 2,000 and 5,000 highly trained and heavily armed forest guards based on their budget, with the recruitment overseen by both the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Ministry of Environment.

A general calculation using 3,500 operatives per state places the projected total of forest guard recruits at no fewer than 130,000 across all states and the Federal Capital Territory.

According to a statement shared on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, on his X handle and titled: “Forest Guards Established by Federal Government,” the development was confirmed.

“President Tinubu has approved the establishment of forest guards and commencement of their employment to secure the 1,129 forests in the country.

“The President directed that the forest guards are to be well-trained and armed to perform their duties, which is essentially to flush out terrorists and criminal gangs hiding inside the forests for criminal activities.

“This recruitment is a security collaborative effort between the federal and state governments. The office of the NSA and the Ministry of Environment have been directed to take charge and ensure full implementation.

“Thousands of young Nigerians are expected to be employed as personnel of the outfit,” the statement read.

During a recent trip to Katsina State, the President emphasized that his government would not yield any part of the nation’s land to terrorists, bandits, or other armed groups operating within forest regions, asserting his commitment to reclaiming Nigeria’s forests.

Nigeria is home to more than 1,129 designated forest reserves, placing it among the African nations with the most extensive collection of protected forest zones.

These reserves vary in both size and how they are managed, with most under state authority. However, a number are federally controlled, particularly those designated as national parks or biosphere reserves.

Despite this, many of these forests are under serious threat due to illegal logging, farming encroachments, construction, and, more recently, security concerns, as some have become sanctuaries for criminal activity.

• States already acting

So far, no fewer than 11 states have activated forest security outfits—sometimes referred to as forest rangers or guards—though the new plan seeks to arm and scale these units up under a unified national approach.

The Nigerian Hunter and Forest Security Service currently lists commanders for the Niger, FCT, Kogi, and Benue state commands, indicating these states are already involved in forest security operations.

Other states may also have their own forest security outfits, although their structures and names can differ.

“Several states already have forest guards under their agriculture ministries. The plan is to now arm and upscale them under a unified national strategy,” said a Presidency insider who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak on the matter.

Earlier report ondicated that at least 10 states had started deploying forest guards to protect farmlands and remove criminal elements.

At a meeting held in February 2024 between President Bola Tinubu and state governors, an agreement was reached between the federal and state governments to recruit more forest rangers and enhance training with the goal of “keep our forests and our borders safe,” according to the Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, who briefed reporters afterward.

Sources say the President encouraged governors to further deliberate on forest guard strategies at the state level.

In a post-meeting conversation with our reporter, a government official who asked not to be named said, “The President told the state governors to discuss it further at the state level.

“A committee was set up for that. We have not heard from the committee yet. Don’t also forget that simultaneously, the National Assembly is considering inserting state policing in the constitution. So, there is a consensus around state policing.

“As for the forest guards, work is going on with it. There are existing forest guards in several states, but they are under the states’ ministries of agriculture. The goal now is to strengthen their capacity by arming them properly and recruiting more people.

“Still, it all falls in the hands of the states to strengthen the forest guards. That is where we are now.”

• Invasion worries governors

Governors in several states have voiced concern about the illegal occupation and incursion into forest reserves within their boundaries.

Although these incursions initially focused on exploiting natural resources and clearing land, they have now evolved into more dangerous threats, with terrorists and bandits establishing bases within the forests to launch attacks.

In Kwara State, reports of threats tied to the Kainji Lake National Park have surfaced. Following attacks carried out by the Mahmuda terrorist group in places such as Duruma and Kaiama, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq visited the affected communities to assess the damage.

The park, which straddles both Niger and Kwara states, has been highlighted as a possible entry route for armed groups crossing over from the Republic of Benin into Nigeria.

Kwara’s Upper Ogun Forest Reserve links Kainji Lake National Park to other areas, raising alarms about how easily criminals can navigate through these wooded regions.

In response to a recent attack in Kwara, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Olufemi Oluyede, ordered the troops at Sobi Barracks in Ilorin to flush out terrorist elements in the Kainji Dam area within a month, emphasizing the critical nature of the situation.

Beyond Kwara, several other states have reported challenges related to forest reserve invasions.

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, recently drew attention to foreign insurgents infiltrating local forests, blaming them for recent violent outbreaks.

The Old Oyo National Park, which borders several forest reserves, has also been recognized as a high-risk zone for criminal incursions, threatening nearby urban areas.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, decried the movement of bandits into the Southern forests after they were forced out of other areas by military operations.

• Government recommendations

Based on advice from the governors, the President has permitted each state to recruit forest guards based on their available resources.

A Presidency official disclosed that states are expected to hire between 2,000 and 5,000 forest rangers depending on their financial strength.

He explained that the implementation and training will be coordinated by the Office of the NSA and the Ministry of Environment, and that the forest guards will be fully armed and trained to professional standards.

On the recruitment process, the source noted it would be stringent and closely monitored by security agencies, local leaders, and traditional authorities.

“Each state will determine its recruitment figures based on resources, with the Federal Government ensuring standardisation and coordination.

“Recruitment will be rigorous. Security agencies, traditional rulers, and community leaders will be involved. Forest guards will be armed and trained to the highest standards,” he said.

Attempts to reach the Director of Forestry in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr. Moses Ama, were unsuccessful as his phone remained switched off.

• Security experts react

Retired Army General, Peter Aro, welcomed the decision, describing it as a timely intervention aimed at addressing worsening insecurity in forested regions, particularly banditry, kidnapping, and insurgency.

Nonetheless, he warned that placing the new outfit under the dual supervision of the Ministry of Environment and the Office of the National Security Adviser could hinder its effectiveness and create administrative confusion.

“It represents a victory for those who have long championed a specialized response to forest-based threats like kidnapping and insurgency. However, this moment of triumph risks being squandered if the foundation is flawed. Assigning both the Ministry of Environment and the Office of the National Security Adviser to co-supervise this new outfit introduces the risk of power struggles, unclear directives, and bureaucratic confusion, especially regarding recruitment and procurement processes.”

He argued that the ONSA, while central to intelligence coordination, is not designed for the operational management of paramilitary services and should not be burdened with such a role.

“Handing it such roles threatens to derail the professionalism already embedded in the NFSS through years of field experience, internal vetting mechanisms, and the effective use of trusted local operatives, particularly traditional hunters,” he added.

According to Aro, the NFSS has already built a solid foundation through years of grassroots involvement, relying on trusted local operatives, including traditional hunters.

He cited their successes, particularly along the volatile Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor, as evidence of the organization’s capacity. Currently, the NFSS boasts a presence of 3,000 personnel in each state, including the Federal Capital Territory.

“This is not a job for just anyone. It requires experience and dedication.

“The Commandant-General, who funded and led this organisation from its private beginnings, deserves institutional continuity—not interference.”

Aro likened the NFSS to other national institutions such as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Road Safety Corps, which were allowed to mature into effective agencies.

He warned that failure to give the NFSS similar breathing room could doom the initiative.

A security analyst, Chidi Omeje, strongly criticised plans to deploy forest guards to tackle armed bandits in the forests, warning that such move could lead to unnecessary loss of lives.

“Which forest are we talking about? Isn’t it the same forest we’re seeing — the one filled with coordinated syndicates of bandits armed with all manner of weapons? What kind of weapons are we giving to these forest guards? Look, I wouldn’t want us to send them to their deaths.

“These forest guards cannot withstand the firepower of the kind of bandits we have in our forests.

“Our forests have become dens of heavily armed, well-trained criminals. Sending forest guards, probably with only shotguns or even AK-47s, is like sending them to their deaths.”

He argued that the nation’s current strategy should focus on bolstering military presence.

“We need more soldiers, more boots on the ground, and proper platforms with serious firepower.

“You can’t send forest guards into that situation. We’ll be harvesting deaths. They’ll be stuck in the middle like rats. I don’t support that idea.

“Well, if the plan is to complement existing efforts, then fine — but how exactly will they complement anything? What can they really do against those already in the forests? Haven’t we seen video clips showing how sophisticated these criminals are? How can forest guards confront that level of threat?”

Instead, Omeje advocated for the use of advanced technology and air support. “We should be talking about drones, aerial surveillance systems, and in some cases, even carpet bombing — based on verified intelligence.”

He maintained that only the military, supported by air and police forces, had the capability to reclaim Nigeria’s forests from armed groups.

Credit: The Punch