Nigeria: Tinubu Approves Creation of Forest Guards to Curb Insecurity

Armed personnel called park rangers already perform similar duties to the new forest guards. President Bola Tinubu has approved their establishment to protect Nigerian forests. Many young Nigerians will be hired and trained for this role, according to Sunday Dare, the president's media adviser.

The forest guards will be armed and trained to combat terrorists and criminal gangs hiding in forests. This recruitment is a joint effort between federal and state governments.

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Ministry of Environment will oversee implementation. President Tinubu warned that his administration would not give up any territory to terrorists or criminals. He pledged that Nigeria would reclaim its forests.

It is unclear if the government will keep both park rangers and forest guards or merge them.

According to official records, Nigeria has 1,129 forests. However, many are controlled by terrorists. In the North-east, insurgents hide in Sambisa forest and other ungoverned areas.

In the North-west, bandits take refuge in forests like Kuwaimbana and Kamuku. They exploit porous borders to connect with other regions where they have strongholds. These include Alawa forest and Kainji National Park in North-central and South-west Nigeria.

Militant secessionists also control some forests in the South-east region of the country.