FG, states delay 130,000 forest guards’ recruitment amid rising killings

The renewed national forest policing initiative launched by the Federal Government in May is receiving a slow response from several states, investigation has revealed.

This comes despite a surge in deadly attacks by terrorists, bandits, and Fulani militias, which have claimed hundreds of lives across the country in the past two months.

President Bola Tinubu approved the establishment of the National Forest Guard system on May 15 as part of efforts to tackle the worsening insecurity across Nigeria.

According to a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, the president made the announcement during an expanded Federal Executive Council meeting.

He mandated each state to recruit between 2,000 and 5,000 forest guards based on their capacity.

A rough estimate of about 3,500 recruits per state would result in the recruitment of at least 130,000 forest guards across the states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Findings showed that prior to Tinubu’s announcement in May, at least 11 states already had operationalised forest guards, also known as forest rangers or forest security, but were yet to arm and upscale them for national security efforts.

The moves, it was gathered, followed Tinubu’s meeting with the governors in February 2024, where the Federal Government and the states agreed to recruit the forest rangers and invest in more training, according to the Information Minister, Mohammed Idris.

Deadly attacks, unmanned forest

Nigeria has over 1,129 forest reserves, making it one of the African countries with a large number of gazetted forest areas.

These reserves vary in size and management, and most are under the control of state governments, though a few fall under federal jurisdiction, especially those within national parks or designated biosphere reserves.

Many of the reserves, however, face significant threats from illegal logging, encroachment for farming, infrastructure development and, recently, security challenges, as some now serve as criminal hideouts.

Since May, when Tinubu ordered the recruitment of forest guards, northern Nigeria and some other parts of the country have witnessed several deadly attacks.

investigation revealed that no fewer than 700 people were killed in the various attacks carried out by terror groups, including Boko Haram, bandits, Fulani militias, Islamic State’s West Africa Province, and Lukarawa.

On May 17, at least 23 farmers and fishermen were killed and others abducted by suspected Islamist militants in Malam Karanti village in Kukawa local government area of Borno State.

Benue and Plateau States witnessed the highest deadly attacks in June.

Between June 8 and 14, suspected Fulani militia launched several attacks on Benue villages, killing more than 300 people and displacing several others.

On June 13, gunmen attacked Yelewata and Daudu communities in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, killing over 100 people, including five security personnel and internally displaced persons, as well women and children.

Confirming the attacks, the National Emergency Management Agency said, “Dozens of people sustained injuries, and 46 individuals were rushed to hospitals. Sadly, 20 of them later died due to the severity of the injuries they sustained.”

According to Amnesty International, 3,941 persons were displaced by the attacks.

In the wake of the attacks, President Tinubu visited survivors of the attacks and directed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, to immediately arrest killer herders who perpetrated the attacks.

On June 21, gunmen, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, also attacked Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas of Plateau State, killing 19 people.

A few days after the attack, terrorists killed at least 17 soldiers when they attacked military bases in Niger and Kaduna states.

Confirming the attacks, the Nigerian Army said the troops were killed during separate attacks on its military bases of Kwanar Dutse Mairiga, Boka, Niger State, and Aungwan Turai Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna.

The country has also witnessed a resurgence of the use of Improvised Explosive Devices by Boko Haram terrorists in the past few weeks.

On June 22, 12 persons were killed in a suicide bomb explosion in front of a local cinema near Konduga fish market, Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

A few days after the suicide bomb attack, a landmine planted by suspected Boko Haram terrorists killed four people and injured 10 others along the Maiduguri-Damboa highway in the state.

To curtail the escalating forest security threats, Tinubu, while speaking at the May FEC meeting, mandated the states to recruit at least 2,000 heavily armed and well-trained forest guards.

The president asked the Office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Ministry of Environment to supervise the recruitment exercise.

However, over two months after the directive, it was gathered that the exercise is witnessing systemic delays in some states of the country, while those that have heeded the call haven’t employed the expected quota.

The states yet to begin the process include Kaduna, Ondo, Benue, Kano, Jigawa, Akwa-Ibom and Gombe States, while those that had started the process are Borno, Adamawa, Kwara, Plateau, Niger, Edo, Anambra, Enugu, among others.

Kaduna yet to begin the exercise

Despite having large swathes of forests that served as hideouts for criminal gangs, Kaduna State is yet to begin the recruitment process, according to competent security sources familiar with the matter.

However, a senior security official, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said Governor Uba Sani remains committed to the security and safety of Kaduna residents and is expected to act once all modalities are finalised.

“You know, when it comes to security matters, His Excellency, Governor Uba Sani, takes them very seriously. He’s passionate about ensuring citizens live in peace,” the source said.

According to him, the governor had, from his first day in office on May 29, 2023, prioritised security, particularly in volatile areas such as Birnin-Gwari, which, for years, had been synonymous with banditry, kidnappings, and terror.

The source added that the governor would not hesitate to embrace any initiative that aligned with its goal of safeguarding lives and property.

Similarly, the Ondo State Government said it had yet to commence the recruitment process because the Federal Government had not initiated any move for its nationwide take-off.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Security Matters, Mr Gbenga Atiba, made this known in an interview

He said that when the programme takes off properly, the Federal Government would communicate its execution plan to the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

“I’m not sure the recruitment has started because we all just came back from Abuja recently, all security advisers nationwide. We went to have a meeting with the National Security Adviser, so no one state has started. It’s just speculation,” Atiba said.

He noted that the forest guard recruitment idea wasn’t mooted by the states, but by the Federal Government, which is expected to give slots to the sub-nationals.

“It’s the Federal Government’s directive and not the states’ creation. So, it’s the Federal Government that gives the slots.

“We already had a very long meeting with the NSA. The directive will come from Abuja on when to start. But people are just coming up with different things. They have not started the recruitment,” the Aiyedatiwa’s aide said.

Similarly, the Benue State government said it was waiting to get a directive from the NSA before starting the recruitment process.

The commander of the State Forest Security Service, Jov Peter, disclosed this to one of our correspondents on Friday, noting that the state government needed more clarification from the NSA office on the proposed idea.

“Recruitment is yet to start here. We need some clarification, and the state government needs to get clarification from the office of the NSA,” Peter said.

Internal complications in Kano

A similar situation plays out in Kano as the North-West Command of the Forest Security Guards of Nigeria said the exercise had yet to begin in the state due to internal complications and the emergence of a rival faction.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the FSGN Commander in the state, Usman Muazu, said a growing dispute within the security outfit caused the delay in recruitment.

He explained that under the immediate past regime of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services were officially recognised and passed through all legislative stages in the National Assembly.

“Now, under the Tinubu-led administration, another structure has been introduced, which is the Forest Security Guards of Nigeria, leading to rivalry and confusion,” Muazu said.

He disclosed that no official communication had been received from the national headquarters in Kano despite Tinubu’s directive.

“We haven’t received any request from the national headquarters regarding the recruitment so far. So we don’t even know our stance for now,” he stated.

Even the police don’t know where the directive is coming from. Rumour suggests it may be linked to the office of the National Security Adviser.”

In Gombe State, there are uncertainties regarding the commencement of the exercise

When contacted, the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Col. Bello Abdullahi, said he couldn’t authenticate any recent recruitment in the state.

In a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, he said, “Nobody called me for such. I am not aware. You can give me a little time to get across to their leaders to know.”

Meanwhile, the Jigawa State government has refused to reveal its stand on the forest guard recruitment directive.

Our correspondent gathered that from all indications, the state seems to be paying less attention to the security directive.

This comes as efforts by our correspondent to get an update on the development from the state government proved abortive.

The Special Adviser on Security to Jigawa State Governor, Colonel Usman Jahun (retd.), did not pick up his calls, nor had he responded to text messages sent to him as of the time of filing this report on Friday.

Similarly, a visit to the office of the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Hamisu Gumel, yielded no result as he was unavailable.

He also did not answer calls or respond to text messages as of press time.

Likewise, the Jigawa State Commissioner for Information, Sagir Musa, did not answer a call put through to him by our correspondent on Friday.

Borno training recruits

The Borno State government, however, said it had started vetting, profiling, and training the forest guard recruits following the Federal Government’s directive.

The state Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, disclosed this in a text message sent on Thursday, noting that the exercise had started across the entire local government areas.

“The recruitment has started in Borno State. We have complied with the directive in terms of numbers and spread across LGAs. Right now, we are conducting a diligent vetting, profiling and training of the recruits,” he said.

Similarly, the Niger State Government said it had already recruited and commenced training of the guards before the Federal Government mooted the idea.

The Commissioner for Homeland Security, Brig. Gen. Muhammed Bello (retd.), revealed this in an interview.

He, however, declined to comment on the number of forest guards recruited so far by the state government and whether they had been equipped with arms.

“We are ahead of the Federal Government on the exercise. The recruited operatives graduated last week, maybe it’s just for us to do an additional one with the number the Federal Government has said.

“But I can’t tell you the number of people recruited and whether they will bear arms. Those are security issues we don’t want the enemies to know what we are doing and take advantage of it,” Bello said.

Plateau, Kwara, Adamawa recruit 1,650

Even though each state is expected to make at least 2000 fresh recruits, Sunday PUNCHgathered that Plateau, Kwara and Adamawa States have recruited a total of 1,650 guards to man their forests.

The Plateau State government said it had recruited 150 forest guards codenamed Agro-Rangers to provide security for farmers and their produce across the state.

Speaking to our correspondent in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Friday, Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s Special Adviser on Policy and Governance, Yiljap Abraham, described the forest policing initiative as a strategic intervention aimed at ensuring food security and, ultimately, achieving food sovereignty in Nigeria.

“Since the security of lives and property of Plateau people remains a cardinal focus of this administration, the governor commissioned 150 Agro-Rangers to provide dedicated security for farmers and their produce across the state,” Abraham said.

The governor’s aide revealed that the Agro-Rangers were recently trained and passed out at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Command and Staff College, Naton-Fursa, Jos East Local Government Area.

He said Governor Mutfwang had made it clear that Nigerian farms are national assets that must be protected, adding that the state government had earlier trained 600 personnel to boost security in the state.

Also, Adamawa State said it had recruited and started training over 900 forest guards to man the forests in the state.

A military officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity on Friday, said the recruits are undergoing training in the military camp.

“They are presently undergoing training on the use of firearms in the military shooting range near Mayo-belwa Local Government,” the source said.

However, efforts to get more clarification from the state government on the ongoing training proved abortive.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Sadiq Mohammed, declined to speak on the matter, as he referred our correspondent to the ministry’s Permanent Secretary.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State government said it had concluded the recruitment exercise in six local government areas, employing no fewer than 600 guards.

The Senior Special Adviser to the state governor on security, Alhaji Aliyu Muyideen, disclosed this in a telephone conversation with Sunday PUNCH on Friday, adding that the recruitment was concluded last week.

He said the covered LGs include Baruten, Kaiama, Edu, Patigi, Ifelodun and Ekiti.

Muyideen noted that 100 candidates were recruited from each council area, adding that the recruits’ training would soon commence.

Anambra govt training guards

The Anambra State government also said it had approved the training of the operatives of the Nigeria Forest Security Service as part of the state’s efforts to strengthen its security outfit, “Operation Udo-ga-chi”.

Speaking to our correspondent on Friday, the Anambra State spokesman for the NFSS, Moses Okeke, said their operations are mostly in the forests and bushes because they know the terrain very well.

Although he did not disclose the total number of forest guards that have been trained so far, Okeke said the new recruits had been mandated to join forces with other security agencies to ensure the state government rid the hinterlands of criminal activities.

“The state government has been training forest guards, and a significant number of them have been trained.

“The nomenclature of the NFSS suggests that its security operations are basically in the forests and that we have been adequately trained for the purpose of fighting crimes and criminals camping in the forests and bushes,” Okeke said.

“We are confident that the partnership would further enhance the success stories of other security outfits, and we assure that NFSS would be readily available to make its job easier, especially in the hinterlands.”

Efforts to get the reactions of the state Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, proved abortive as calls and messages to his telephone line were not answered.

However, a top official in the ministry, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to do so, confirmed that the state government, in collaboration with the state Police command, had trained some forest guards to complement the efforts of security outfits in the state.

“A significant number of forest guards have been trained by the state government. The training, which commenced in January, has witnessed tremendous turnout.

Although there is a target number the state is looking to train and recruit into its security outfit, but at the moment, I cannot give you the total figure as that is not available with me at the moment,” the source said.

Meanwhile, Enugu State Government said it had been operating the Forest Guard and Neighborhood Watch for nearly a decade following repeated Fulani herdsmen invasion of Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of the state.

However, it could not be ascertained whether the state government had carried out fresh recruitments in respect of the Federal Government directive.

Exercise needless—Expert

Speaking to news, the Assistant Commander General Operations of Forest Security Service in Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau States, Peter Ajonye, frowned on the idea of fresh recruitment.

He argued that the Federal Government should have made use of existing hunters, who already know the terrain of the forest.

Ajonye expressed doubt that the government may not attain its desired objectives with the recruit.

He said, “The Federal Government should make use of the existing hunters who already know the terrain and have adequate knowledge of the forest.

“My fear is that some people may not have an interest in joining the forest guard because of its nature, so it’s better if the government makes use of existing hunters, who know how to handle arms; they only need a little training.”

“Our men are in the forest now as I talk to you, and if you just recruit these people and allow them to carry necessary arms, tackling these bandits will be a little assignment for them.”