President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment and recruitment of forest guards to secure 1,129 woodlands across the country.
Gatekeepers News reports that the initiative aims to dislodge terrorists and criminal groups using forests as hideouts.
According to a statement by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, the president has directed that the guards be well-trained and armed.
Dare noted that the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and Ministry of the Environment have been directed to take charge of the guards.
The statement reads, “The president directed that the forest guards are to be well trained and armed to perform their duties, which is essentially to flush out terrorists and criminal gangs hiding inside the forests for criminal activities.”
“This recruitment is a security collaborative effort between the federal and state
governments.”
“The office of the NSA and the Ministry of Environment have been directed to take charge and ensure full implementation.”
“Thousands of young Nigerians are expected to be employed as personnel of the outfit.”
“President Tinubu had warned terrorists that his administration would not surrender an inch of the country’s territory to terrorists, bandits, and other criminal gangs operating inside the forests.”
