Nigerian troops battle insurgents in a northern forest | File photo
President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment and recruitment of forest guards to secure 1,129 woodland across the country.
The president also directed that the guards be well trained and armed.
A statement by Sunday Dare, the special adviser to the president on media and public communication, said the office of the national security adviser (NSA) and ministry of the environment have been directed to take charge of the guards.
Dare said Tinubu has promised to take back the country’s forest from criminal elements.
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“The president directed that the forest guards are to be well trained and armed to perform their duties, which is essentially to flush out terrorists and criminal gangs hiding inside the forests for criminal activities,” the statement reads.
“This recruitment is a security collaborative effort between the federal and state governments.
“The office of the NSA and the Ministry of Environment have been directed to take charge and ensure full implementation.
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“Thousands of young Nigerians are expected to be employed as personnel of the outfit.
“President Tinubu had warned terrorists that his administration would not surrender an inch of the country’s territory to terrorists, bandits, and other criminal gangs operating inside the forests.”
The move comes amid rising insecurity in several parts of the country.
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