Tinubu Approves National Forest Guards to Combat Terrorism and Banditry

In a bold step to restore security and order to Nigeria’s vast forest reserves, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally approved the establishment of a dedicated Forest Guards corps tasked with protecting the nation’s 1,129 forests from terrorists, bandits, and other criminal gangs. The announcement was made public on Wednesday through Mr. Sunday Dare, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, via his official X account.

This strategic security initiative aims to root out illegal activities perpetrated within Nigeria’s forest reserves, which have increasingly become hideouts for insurgents and criminal networks. President Tinubu has directed the National Security Adviser (NSA) to commence immediate recruitment of personnel for the new force, emphasizing a collaborative effort involving both federal and state governments to ensure its success.

The President has mandated that the forest guards be comprehensively trained and properly armed to effectively fulfill their primary duty—to flush terrorists and criminals out of the woods and forests where they currently exploit the terrain for unlawful purposes. Thousands of young Nigerians are expected to benefit from employment opportunities through this initiative, providing both security and socio-economic upliftment.

As part of the operational oversight, the Office of the NSA and the Ministry of Environment have been entrusted with responsibility to ensure the full and efficient implementation of the Forest Guards program. This move underscores the administration’s firm commitment to reclaiming every inch of the country’s territory, particularly the forested areas that until now have presented significant security challenges.

President Tinubu had previously issued a stern warning to terrorists and bandits operating within the country’s forest reserves that his government will not cede an inch of Nigeria’s territory to criminal elements. “Nigeria will take back its forests,” the President vowed.

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The establishment of the Forest Guards comes amid escalating insecurity in multiple regions of Nigeria, where forest reserves house not only ecological wealth but increasingly serve as criminal sanctuaries disrupting peace and development.

This security enhancement aligns with the broader national strategy to protect citizens, safeguard natural resources, and restore confidence in areas affected by lawlessness.