QUESTIONS ON THE FOREST GUARD
Nigerians deserve more operational details about the Forest Guard
Although details remain sketchy, President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment and deployment of armed forest guards across the country as part of efforts to reclaim Nigeria’s vast forestlands from criminal elements and strengthen national security. In a recent social media post by the special adviser to the president on public communications and orientation, Sunday Dare, implementation will be coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Federal Ministry of Environment. “The president directed that the forest guards be well trained and armed to flush out terrorists and criminal gangs hiding in the forests,” Dare said.
Nigeria boasts of more than 20 million hectares of natural forests, 966 designated forest reserves, eight national parks, 28 game reserves and 12 strict nature reserves. Considering that insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, etc., have turned these endowments of nature into criminal fiefdoms, we understand the justification for the establishment of Forest Guard. However, we do not believe that the federal government is handling the issue the right way. At a period when many stakeholders are clamouring for locally controlled security forces that can respond quickly and effectively to the needs of their communities, Nigerians deserve more operational details about this Forest Guard, including how their personnel would be recruited.
Beyond the challenge of overcentralisation is that of a possible duplication of efforts. Therefore, in establishing the Forest Guard, the federal government must ensure a clear delineation between its role and that of the military to avoid the issue of undue rivalry. Basically, its role must be complementary and supportive to the military, serving as the first layer of defence in the overall protection of our forests. The presidential statement does not suggest that. Yet, the responsibility to flush out terrorists and bandits who hide inside forests for criminal activities may be way beyond the capacity of a traditional guard outfit, except the plan is to create another quasi-military force that may further complicate the current security architecture.
For better coordination and control due to the issue of arms bearing, the federal government may consider placing the new outfit under the Ministry of Interior with established interface with the Ministry of Defence, rather than the Ministry of Environment. It may also be more productive to expand the activities of the existing National Park Service and saddle the personnel with providing intelligence in support of ongoing military operations, especially in the Northeast. They can then be armed with light weapons for self-defence against bandits, criminal gangs and from wild animals.
In the 60s and 70s, forestry was a foreign exchange earner for the country through large-scale exportation of timber and wood. Sadly, the reserves have become havens for criminal activities. In Nigeria today, the spate of kidnappings for ransom has become frightening. Inordinate killings are rife. Every Nigerian seems to be living in terror spaces daily, as no time is safe, and no place is sacred. Rather than serve as sanctuaries for endangered plant and animal species, our forests and forests reserves have become the operational headquarters for criminals. From traditional rulers to retired army generals to professors in our universities, nobody is safe from these criminal gangs who have taken over many ungoverned forests across the country. The notorious Sambisa Forest in Borno State, a once flourishing game reserve, still serves as the stronghold of Boko Haram terrorists.
Therefore, we must take back our forests and forest reserves from criminal gangs that have turned them into bases from where they launch attacks on homes, schools and road users. President Tinubu had promised in January 2024 that his administration would confront this menace with the establishment of Forest Guard. But while the idea is good, Nigerians would like to know more about this special security unit being created, their standard operating procedures, recruitment of their personnel and other such critical information. Nigerians would also want to know how the outfit will network with other security agencies to collectively rout the criminals hibernating in our forests.
Over and above all these issues is that of an enabling law to back the establishment of the Forest Guard. As of today, there is none!
