By Wellington Jopelo
Nigeria is witnessing a fresh push by several state governments to deploy forest guards as part of efforts to tackle rising insecurity, especially kidnappings and attacks linked to criminal groups operating from forested areas.
The move follows growing concern over how forests have become safe havens for armed gangs, prompting both federal and state authorities to strengthen surveillance and security presence in rural and woodland regions.
According to reports, states such as Kebbi, Gombe, Kwara, Kaduna, Edo, Imo, Bayelsa, Anambra and others are scaling up the deployment of forest guards under a federal-backed security initiative aimed at reclaiming forests from criminals and improving rural safety .
In Kebbi State alone, hundreds of newly trained forest guards have already been deployed after completing intensive security training, marking one of the early implementations of the programme across the country .
The renewed focus comes after the Federal Government approved the recruitment of about 1,000 forest guards in response to recent attacks and abductions in parts of the country, including Oyo and Kwara States .
Authorities say the initiative is designed to improve intelligence gathering in forests, support security agencies, and prevent criminals from using remote areas as operational bases.
However, security experts remain divided over its effectiveness, with some arguing that while forest guards may improve local surveillance, deeper structural reforms are needed to address the root causes of insecurity.
Despite the debate, implementation continues across several states, with officials insisting the strategy will help reduce attacks in rural communities and improve safety for residents.
In summary, the deployment of forest guards marks a growing shift toward localized security responses as Nigeria continues to grapple with worsening insecurity in forested and hard-to-reach regions.