In a decisive move to reclaim Nigeria’s wilderness from insurgents, President Bola Tinubu has sanctioned the creation of a specialized forest guard force tasked with securing the nation’s 1,129 forests.
The initiative, unveiled Wednesday, includes arming and rigorously training recruits to root out terrorists and criminal networks exploiting these areas.
Presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare emphasized the administration’s resolve, stating, “The office of the NSA and the Ministry of Environment have been directed to take charge and ensure full implementation.” He described the program as a joint federal-state effort to bolster security infrastructure.
The recruitment drive is projected to employ thousands of young Nigerians, injecting both jobs and vigilance into regional ecosystems.
“President Tinubu had warned terrorists that his administration would not surrender an inch of the country’s territory to terrorists, bandits, and other criminal gangs operating inside the forests,” Dare affirmed, reiterating the President’s vow: “The country would take back its forests.”
The guards’ mandate will focus on dismantling hideouts used for illegal activities, signaling Tinubu’s broader strategy to merge environmental stewardship with national security. Further operational details are expected as the National Security Adviser and Environment Ministry finalize rollout plans.
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