Tinubu launches armed forest guard unit

In a decisive step toward bolstering national security, President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of an armed forest guard unit to combat criminal activities thriving within Nigeria’s vast forest reserves.

According to a report by SaharaReporters, the newly formed unit will focus on reclaiming the nation’s 1,129 forest reserves—areas that have long served as safe havens for terrorists, kidnappers, and armed bandits.

This security initiative is part of a broader strategy to disrupt the operations of criminal networks that exploit the remote and ungoverned nature of these forests to evade law enforcement.

The deployment represents a coordinated effort between federal and state governments, with the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Ministry of Environment assigned to lead its implementation.

Thousands of young Nigerians are expected to be recruited into the new outfit, offering a dual benefit of enhanced security and job creation.

Reaffirming his administration’s security priorities, President Tinubu declared, “No part of Nigeria’s territory would be ceded to terrorists or bandits.”

He further stated his administration’s resolve to push back against violent non-state actors, adding, “Nigeria will take back its forests.”