₦airaland Forum

Tinubu Launches Armed Forest Guards Initiative— A Move Yahaya Bello Championed in 2017

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of armed forest guards to secure Nigeria’s 1,129 forest reserves from terrorists, bandits, and criminal gangs. Announced by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, the initiative is a collaborative effort between the federal and state governments, with oversight by the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Ministry of Environment. Thousands of young Nigerians are expected to be trained and equipped to carry out forest security operations aimed at flushing out criminals and reclaiming forested areas. Tinubu reaffirmed that his administration would not allow any part of the country to remain under the control of non-state actors.

While the new federal initiative is being widely welcomed, it is noteworthy that a similar approach was adopted in Kogi State as far back as 2017 under former Governor Yahaya Bello. At the time, the state recruited over 300 forest guards to protect its forest reserves and reduce illegal activities such as deforestation and unauthorized logging. Bello emphasized discipline among the guards and tasked them with enforcing forest laws, including measures to ensure environmental sustainability.

The Kogi initiative also encouraged local community participation in monitoring and reporting illegal activities, with an emphasis on preserving the state’s forest resources for both security and economic purposes. Provisions were also made to promote reforestation, such as replacing felled trees with new ones in a regulated manner.

Yahaya Bello, during his tenure, was widely known for prioritizing security. His administration took several steps to tackle insecurity across Kogi State, including community-based vigilance, collaboration with federal security agencies, and the establishment of various state-level security frameworks. His efforts earned him national recognition, including the award of “Most Security Conscious Governor” by various civil society and security advocacy groups during his time in office.

Although the scale and context of Tinubu’s current plan are broader and national in scope, the similarities to Kogi State’s earlier efforts highlight the relevance of local security innovations. It demonstrates how state-level approaches can sometimes inform or predate national strategies, especially in areas like forest protection, where criminal groups have increasingly exploited ungoverned spaces.

“The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Ministry of Environment have been tasked with overseeing and ensuring the full implementation of the initiative.

President Tinubu had earlier 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.” He vowed that Nigeria “would take back its forests.”

As the federal government rolls out this new forest guard initiative, it serves as a reminder of the need for continuity and coordination between state and federal security measures. While the focus remains on national security, it is equally important to acknowledge earlier attempts by state actors to address similar challenges in their regions.

Naijafever1:
Tinubu Launches Armed Forest Guards Initiative— A Move Yahaya Bello Championed in 2017

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of armed forest guards to secure Nigeria’s 1,129 forest reserves from terrorists, bandits, and criminal gangs. Announced by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, the initiative is a collaborative effort between the federal and state governments, with oversight by the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Ministry of Environment. Thousands of young Nigerians are expected to be trained and equipped to carry out forest security operations aimed at flushing out criminals and reclaiming forested areas. Tinubu reaffirmed that his administration would not allow any part of the country to remain under the control of non-state actors.

While the new federal initiative is being widely welcomed, it is noteworthy that a similar approach was adopted in Kogi State as far back as 2017 under former Governor Yahaya Bello. At the time, the state recruited over 300 forest guards to protect its forest reserves and reduce illegal activities such as deforestation and unauthorized logging. Bello emphasized discipline among the guards and tasked them with enforcing forest laws, including measures to ensure environmental sustainability.

The Kogi initiative also encouraged local community participation in monitoring and reporting illegal activities, with an emphasis on preserving the state’s forest resources for both security and economic purposes. Provisions were also made to promote reforestation, such as replacing felled trees with new ones in a regulated manner.

Yahaya Bello, during his tenure, was widely known for prioritizing security. His administration took several steps to tackle insecurity across Kogi State, including community-based vigilance, collaboration with federal security agencies, and the establishment of various state-level security frameworks. His efforts earned him national recognition, including the award of “Most Security Conscious Governor” by various civil society and security advocacy groups during his time in office.

Although the scale and context of Tinubu’s current plan are broader and national in scope, the similarities to Kogi State’s earlier efforts highlight the relevance of local security innovations. It demonstrates how state-level approaches can sometimes inform or predate national strategies, especially in areas like forest protection, where criminal groups have increasingly exploited ungoverned spaces.

“The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Ministry of Environment have been tasked with overseeing and ensuring the full implementation of the initiative.

President Tinubu had earlier 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.” He vowed that Nigeria “would take back its forests.”

As the federal government rolls out this new forest guard initiative, it serves as a reminder of the need for continuity and coordination between state and federal security measures. While the focus remains on national security, it is equally important to acknowledge earlier attempts by state actors to address similar challenges in their regions.

No governor has done better than Yaya Bello till date, interms of security. My Local government share border with kogi state. Before been governor, insecurity was so high in kogi. He recruited alot of young guys. He armed them and pays well. They were paid higher than the most security outfit. Tinubu is doing the right thing. He should copy bello concept. Each of the forest guys are recruited from within their area.

Lol

So only Yahaya Bello has such thought? Very funny

nonsense story...
He championed it , how much success did he achieve...
Championed forest guard, left kogi with over 86 billion....

So much so for a young governor.
We still have a long way to get it right.

You mean Yahya Bello the launders?

helinues:
Lol

So only Yahaya Bello has such thought? Very funny

You see ?

If someone like Bello who was grossly incompetent could fathom this, what about you?

30K can do a lot of damage to the brain cells honestly.

...

Bola stop gas lighting Nigerians

creating forest guards as IF you will allow them do their work

When forest guards catch bandits and hand them over to the police, the bandits will be released the next day

to come back and k i ll the forest guards

is that not what the police is doing ? releasing fulani kill er herdsmen and kidnappers on "orders from above?"

those above - giving the orders to the police will also make sure forest guards will be useless in protecting Nigerians!

Forest guards to protect our forest reserves from terrorists, while Nigerians are being massacred in thousands daily by terrorists yet no guards are being put in place to protect them. Forest get value pass humans for Nigeria.

The news is about forest guard and Tinubu signing it into law.

Why the mention of Yaya Bello the public funds looter 🤔

Tomorrow the armed forest guards will turn to bandits and the crime continues.

Am sure the head must be an Hausa or Fulani which will make Impossible for them to achieve anything with this kind plan

Tinubu should stop trying Nigeria is already death

Naijafever1:
Tinubu Launches Armed Forest Guards Initiative— A Move Yahaya Bello Championed in 2017

Forest guards go use baton to guide forest filled with terrorist wey helicopter Dey supply mad weapons. 😁😁😁

This is why propaganda is bad
Now white lion wants to lionise the Jagaban
So white lion is a bigger master strategist than Jagaban now

It wasn't only Bello. Former Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi did a similar thing.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/ugwuanyi-to-employ-1700-forest-guards/%3famp

kedeojo:
No governor has done better than Yaya Bello till date, interms of security. My Local government share border with kogi state. Before been governor, insecurity was so high in kogi. He recruited alot of young guys. He armed them and pays well. They were paid higher than the most security outfit. Tinubu is doing the right thing. He should copy bello concept. Each of the forest guys are recruited from within their area.

Exactly what I wanted to say: The forest security should be manned by indigenous people of the area. They know their forest more than any one. I support the federal govt on this initiative.

Governance is about picking up great ideas and dumping bad ones. No matter where they come from.

Agbegbaorogboye:

This is why propaganda is bad
Now white lion wants to lionise the Jagaban
So white lion is a bigger master strategist than Jagaban now

Clown 🤡 🤡 🤡

Naijafever1:
Tinubu Launches Armed Forest Guards Initiative— A Move Yahaya Bello Championed in 2017

How about Benue's?

OK ,




Good




Princess Faith Chukwu

Starboytwo:
The news is about forest guard and Tinubu signing it into law.

Why the mention of Yaya Bello the public funds looter 🤔

Yeye Belo boys posted the news.

kedeojo:
No governor has done better than Yaya Bello till date, interms of security. My Local government share border with kogi state. Before been governor, insecurity was so high in kogi. He recruited alot of young guys. He armed them and pays well. They were paid higher than the most security outfit. Tinubu is doing the right thing. He should copy bello concept. Each of the forest guys are recruited from within their area.

Where is your local govt ad which state?

helinues:
Lol

So only Yahaya Bello has such thought? Very funny

Give him y credit now,he is the one that has ever done it before and it really work in kogi

Bello championed what? Safeguarding Kogi forests? Of what use is that compared to over 80 billion he stole from Kogi state? Bello's name should never be mentioned where civilised people are.

So?

lumens:
You see ?

If someone like Bello who was grossly incompetent could fathom this, what about you?

30K can do a lot of damage to the brain cells honestly.

It takes high thinking capacity to be really smart. I never see criminals in govt as ordinary lazy Nigerians. They are smart but unwilling to be use their gift for the benefit of the people they serve. Yahaya may be a thief but not stupid. Selfishness just had the best of him, period.

princepee:
nonsense story...
He championed it , how much success did he achieve...
Championed forest guard, left kogi with over 86 billion....

So much so for a young governor.
We still have a long way to get it right.

Yahyh May have his own lapses oo but on security ,give it to him

Akeredolu and former Enugu governor championed same too but just under different names

The Yahaya Bello's concept on security then was actually a loudable one but because some people doesn't want to hear his name, they will always find a way to useless his personality on anything.


The boys Yahaya Bello recruited for the exercise then are spiritualistic and diabolic. How will Federal government constitute such team is the hurdle.

But in essence, what is the difference between this forest guardsmen and Amotekun in the South West, CJTF in the north east and ESN in the southeast?

Nigeria we hail thee.

One nation



3 military's unit


5 police unit


50 para military's unit


No solution.