The federal government has unveiled a Forest Guards Initiative, aimed at flushing out bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements operating from Nigeria’s forests.
The initiative, formally launched by Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser (NSA), during the opening of the Federal and States Security Administrators’ Meeting (FSSAM) at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Abuja.
It is expected to deploy a massive force of over 130,000 armed forest guards across Nigeria’s 1,129 forest and game reserves.
Ribadu said the initiative, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a decisive step towards reclaiming ungoverned forest areas that have become strongholds for violent groups responsible for widespread insecurity, kidnappings, and rural violence.
“We are taking the fight to where the criminals hide. The Forest Guards Initiative is a bold step to secure our forests, restore peace to rural communities, and deny bandits and kidnappers freedom of action”, Ribadu declared.
According to the NSA, the first phase of the operation will begin in seven frontline states, Adamawa, Borno, Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, Sokoto, and Yobe before expanding to other parts of the country.
(Business Day)
