States Rush to Deploy Forest Guards as Insecurity Deepens

States are expanding forest guard recruitment and deployment to combat insecurity, with thousands undergoing training nationwide, while some states await federal approval and others strengthen existing local security structures.

Several Nigerian states have intensified the deployment of forest guards under a Federal Government-backed initiative aimed at tackling banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities in forested areas.

The renewed focus on forest security follows President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards after recent attacks and abductions linked to suspected bandits in Oyo and Kwara states. States including Kebbi, Gombe, Kwara, Kaduna, Edo, Imo, Bayelsa and Anambra have either commenced recruitment, training or deployment of operatives to strengthen security in vulnerable communities.

In Kebbi State, 819 newly trained forest guards have been deployed after completing a nine-week training programme, while Gombe has screened about 700 recruits currently undergoing specialised training. Kwara has expanded its programme to about 3,300 operatives, while Kaduna has begun training 1,000 recruits drawn from security-challenged communities.

Kano, Katsina and Ekiti states have also deployed forest guards to enhance surveillance and intelligence gathering in forest reserves and rural areas. Edo State recently announced the commencement of training for newly recruited personnel.

However, implementation remains uneven across the country. States such as Zamfara, Rivers, Abia, Lagos and Benue are yet to fully commence recruitment, citing the need for federal approval or awaiting operational guidelines. Ondo State, on the other hand, said it would continue relying on the Amotekun Corps and its forest rangers rather than establishing a separate forest guard structure.

Security experts have expressed differing views on the initiative. While some see forest guards as a critical addition to Nigeria’s security architecture, others caution that they should focus on intelligence gathering, surveillance and forest protection rather than frontline combat operations.

The Federal Government and participating states believe the initiative will help deny criminal groups access to forest hideouts, improve intelligence collection and strengthen collaboration between local communities and conventional security agencies.