Agenda for the Forest Guards

The graduation of the first batch of 950 Forest Guards under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is a welcome development in Nigeria’s prolonged struggle against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping. This was a promise the president made as insecurity continued to confront Nigerians despite the best efforts of the Armed Forces. But graduation ceremonies, uniforms and official speeches will not secure the forests. The real test begins when these personnel enter the difficult terrain where criminals hide, plan attacks, abduct citizens and sustain their operations.
The Presidential Forest Guards Initiative was created to monitor forests and other ungoverned spaces, deny terrorists, ...