Following the surge in banditry, kidnapping, and farmer-herder clashes, state governments across Nigeria are rushing to deploy forest guards to secure vast, ungoverned wooded areas.
States including Kaduna, Katsina, Benue, Ekiti, and Oyo have either launched or fast-tracked plans to establish specialized forest surveillance units. The guards, drawn from local hunters, vigilantes, and retired security personnel, are being trained to navigate difficult terrain and gather intelligence on criminal hideouts.
“We cannot wait for the federal government alone. Bandits have turned our forests into fortresses,” a top security aide to one governor told CDA News Nigeria.
The renewed urgency follows recent attacks launched from forest enclaves, including the killing of travellers and abduction of dozens in communities near major highways.
Critics, however, question the long-term sustainability of state-led forest guards, citing poor funding, lack of coordination with federal forces, and risks of human rights abuses.
Nonetheless, with insecurity deepening, many states see the guards as their fastest line of defense.
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