President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a national Forest Guard corps and the immediate commencement of recruitment across Nigeria’s 1,129 forests. The initiative aims to flush out terrorists, bandits, and other criminal gangs who have turned forests into safe havens for their operations.

The newly formed forest guards will be well-trained, fully armed, and strategically deployed as part of a joint security effort between federal and state governments. The President has directed the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Ministry of Environment to oversee the full implementation of this security measure.

Thousands of young Nigerians are expected to be employed under the initiative, which is a key component of President Tinubu’s broader strategy to reclaim every inch of Nigerian territory from criminal elements. He reaffirmed his administration’s resolve, declaring that Nigeria would not cede its forests to terrorists or outlaws.