President Bola Tinubu has directed National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to urgently accelerate the training and arming of thousands of additional forest guards, marking a decisive step to reclaim Nigeria’s vast forest reserves from terrorists and kidnappers.
The presidential order, issued Wednesday, revives and reinforces earlier approval for the creation of a National Forest Security Service specifically designed to secure forested areas that have become notorious hideouts and operational bases for armed criminal networks.
Speaking ahead of the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, the President declared that the surge in kidnappings and terrorism demands every available resource be deployed to protect Nigerians.
“We face challenges here and there of kidnapping and terrorism. We need all the forces we can utilise. We need to protect our people,” he stressed, tasking the NSA’s office and relevant agencies to fast-track recruitment, training, and equipment so that well-armed forest guards can be deployed without delay to vulnerable rural and forested communities.