By Amofokhai Williams
In a dramatic escalation of Nigeria’s security strategy, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the arming of forest guards nationwide.
He declared that every available force must now be mobilised to confront the country’s increasingly brazen criminal gangs.
Speaking at Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, the President directed the National Security Adviser to immediately begin equipping forest guards, who traditionally operate unarmed, to strengthen frontline defence in rural communities ravaged by banditry, kidnapping and illegal mining.
“We need all the forces that we can utilise,” Tinubu said. “The civil defence are equally armed, and our NSA should arm our forest guards too. Take it very seriously.”
The order marks one of the most aggressive security shifts under the administration, signalling a move toward decentralised armed response teams capable of operating deep inside forests that have become sanctuaries for violent groups.
Tinubu also weighed in on the ongoing retrieval of police officers from VIP protection duty, warning that the process must not leave citizens unprotected.
“If you have any difficulty as regards security because of the nature of your assignment, contact the IGP and get my clearance,” he said. “The Minister of Interior should liaise with the IGP to replace those police officers on special duties so they don’t leave people exposed.”
Security analysts say arming forest guards could reshape Nigeria’s security landscape by providing faster local response and improved surveillance in hard-to-reach areas. But they caution that the success of the initiative will depend on rigorous training, close coordination with the police and military, and clear rules of engagement.
The President’s directives come amid mounting public frustration over the frequency of kidnappings, rural attacks and the expanding influence of criminal groups across forest corridors.
With this latest move, Tinubu has signalled a readiness to deploy every available asset — including long-overlooked forest guards — in a renewed battle to reclaim vulnerable communities from insecurity.
