The Federal Government has approved the deployment of forest guards across Nigeria’s 1,129 documented forests in a major security push to reclaim territories overrun by terrorists and criminal gangs.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu authorized the initiative to flush out criminals using forested areas as hideouts. The plan includes recruiting thousands of young Nigerians to serve as professionally trained, armed forest guards.

Announcing the development, Presidential Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said the recruitment will be jointly handled by federal and state governments, with oversight from the National Security Adviser and the Ministry of Environment.

“The President has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that no part of Nigeria remains under the control of criminal elements,” Dare said in a post on X.

The forest guard initiative is part of a broader strategy to curb insecurity and create employment. Stakeholders, including security analysts and community leaders, have praised the move as a creative and much-needed step.