Tinubu Declares War on Terrorists, Approves Armed Forest Guards to Reclaim Nigeria’s 1,129 Forests
In a bold and decisive move to reclaim Nigeria’s forested territories from terrorists and criminal elements, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the creation of an armed Forest Guard unit, a landmark decision aimed at bolstering the nation’s internal security.
The initiative, which will see thousands of young Nigerians recruited, trained, and deployed, is designed to flush out terrorists and bandits who have turned Nigeria’s 1,129 forests into deadly sanctuaries for violence, kidnapping, and insurgency.
Speaking during a high-level security briefing, President Tinubu reiterated his firm stance: “No part of Nigeria’s territory will be ceded to terrorists or bandits. We will take back our forests.”
The newly formed Forest Guard unit will be fully armed and operate under a joint security framework involving both federal and state governments. The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Ministry of Environment have been tasked with coordinating the implementation and logistics of the deployment.
This historic move comes amid rising insecurity, particularly in forested regions used by insurgent groups and kidnapping syndicates as safe havens. Security experts say the decision to militarize forest surveillance is long overdue and could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s fight against rural-based terrorism.
With the dual benefit of creating employment opportunities and enhancing national security, the Forest Guard project is expected to absorb thousands of youths, empowering them while strengthening Nigeria’s defensive capacity.
Analysts see this initiative as a direct message to enemies of the state that the era of impunity in Nigeria’s wilderness is coming to an end.