In a decisive step toward reclaiming territories lost to lawlessness, President Bola Tinubu has sanctioned the rollout of a new national security initiative: a specially trained, armed forest guard corps. This development marks a significant escalation in Nigeria’s efforts to counter growing insecurity in its vast forested regions.
The announcement was made public by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, who revealed that the new unit will be deployed strategically across Nigeria’s 1,129 designated forest zones. These areas have increasingly become safe havens for kidnappers, bandits, and insurgent groups, complicating government efforts to ensure safety in rural communities.
The operation is designed as a joint federal-state effort, with recruitment and training to be carried out collaboratively. Oversight and coordination responsibilities will fall under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Environment.
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According to Dare, the forest guards will not only be professionally trained but will also carry arms, granting them the capability to confront and dislodge entrenched criminal networks operating in Nigeria’s wilderness zones. The president’s directive, he added, emphasizes swift and sustained action to eliminate threats and restore full government authority over all territories.
This initiative also includes a broader socioeconomic goal: addressing youth unemployment by absorbing thousands of young Nigerians into the new security force. By combining environmental stewardship with internal security, the administration is aiming to create a dual impact improving safety while providing job opportunities.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his stance against any form of territorial concession to non-state actors, declaring unequivocally that “every inch of Nigeria must remain under the control of legitimate authorities.”
As preparations for recruitment begin, analysts view the move as a bold but necessary measure to stem the tide of insecurity and reestablish the rule of law in parts of the country that have long operated outside effective governmental oversight.
