By Uche Onyeali
West African Action Network on Small Arms has commended the federal government for heeding to its call for the establishment of a National Forest Guards to curb the burgeoning insecurity in Nigeria.
Nigeria has been bedeviled by terrorist operations by bandits believed to be aliens who attack communities in various parts of the country, killing citizens and sending many others into Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, camps.
It has been been observed that bandits operate from forests in parts of the country.
Reports have it that terrorists and bandits have already taken over communities, especially in the northern part of the country, marshaling out taxes on them to be free from attacks.
However, National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has confirmed that the federal government, in order to curb the menace, has commenced the establishment of a National Forest Guards programme under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
To check the menace, WAANSA Nigeria suggested the need for the government to consider establishment of the National Forest Guards to curb such criminality and save communities in in the country from attacks.
Responding to WAANSA’s suggestion as presented by the president, Temitope Lamidi, the National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu said: “President of the West African Action Network on Small Arms, WAANSA, Nigeria, I commend this bold initiative. It responds to WAANSA’s long-standing call, first made in 2019 on AIT’s Focus Nigeria, to reclaim forests and ungoverned spaces that have become sanctuaries for armed groups.
“This initiative is timely. It promises to extend state presence into our forests long treated as permissive terrain by armed groups – and to enhance deterrence, early warning, and rapid response .Properly vetted recruits drawn from forest- edge communities can provide granular human intelligence, HUMINT, and tracking skills marking.
“This will boost clear rules of engagement (ROE) and a quick Reaction Force, QRF, linkage to police and military guards can fix- and – report, enabling precision interdictions rather than blunt-force sweeps.
“Public reports indicate states are expected to recruit thousands of guards, reflecting the scale of the task and the seriousness of the intent. This is commendable and deserves the cooperation of all stakeholders.
“The programme can reduce concealment advantage ,reclaim territorial control of ungoverned forests, support safe schooling, deny criminals their cover, put an end to ransom-for-money, strengthen deterrence and save us from the near famine the nation is stealthy drifting into as a result of famers being unable to assess their farmlands, women especially.”
The NSA further noted that the recruitment woild provide human intelligence and thousands of jobs for youths while regular patrols would restore freedom of movement for farmers, traders, women and children.
Meanwhile, Lamidi noted thay roperly integrated into national security, the guards could also support conservation, reduce illegal logging, and cut kidnapping revenues.
“Without a clear statutory instrument, the programme may risk ultravires actions of duplication with the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Park Service, and state- backed outfits.
“Arms diversion risk: Issuing small arms to new formation without airtight stockpile security, marking and inventory controls can fuel the very proliferation we seek to curb.
“Human rights exposure: Poorly trained personnel, vague ROE, and weak accountability can lead to unlawful use of force, arbitrary detention or community backlash- undermining legitimacy like the case we just witnessed with the Anambra State Agunechemba security outfit, who assaulted an innocent female National Youth Service corps member, Miss Jennifer Elobor.”
She noted that if recruitment recruitment of personnel of the guard was not merit- based and audited, it would risk patronage, infiltration by criminal networks, and the weaponiosation of the scheme.
In forests with poor communications, units can become isolated; without reliable ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) and interoperable radios, operational coherence suffers.
“Without a clear legal mandate, the guards risk clashing with police, NSCDC, and other agencies. Poor vetting and weak accountability could allow infiltration by criminal networks or political misuse. Issuing small arms without strict stockpile controls can fuel the very proliferation we fight against. History shows that bandits have overpowered even trained personnel; poorly armed and ill-prepared guards would fare worse, exposing them and communities to danger.”
Recommendations
“To avoid these pitfalls, the programme must rest on a sound legal framework, with clear rules of engagement and defined powers. Recruitment should be merit-based, with biometric vetting, community references, and rigorous training in weapons handling, human rights, and modern counter-insurgency techniques.
“Every weapon must be uniquely marked and recoded with lifecycle tracking consistent with ECOWAS SALW communities, MOSAIC modules, and IATG for ammunition management. Weapons deployed to the Forest Guards must be accounted for, with periodic audits under ECOWAS SALW protocols, and mopped up arms sent to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons NCCSALW, with real sanctions for loss or diversion.”
“The recruitment exercise should institute NIN- linked biometric vetting, background check (criminal records), drug testing (involve NDLEA because must crimes are drug induced, and illicit drugs economies often bankroll armed violence), and community references. Training pipelines must cover ROE, escalation-of-force, evidence handling, first aid/CASEVAC (casualty evacuation), and navigation, IED awareness, human rights and humanitarian law, and gender – based violence prevention. Annual recertification should be compulsory.
“The guards must be tied into a joint operations room with Police, NSCDC, and the Armed Forces, ensuring rapid reinforcement when required. Community liaison committees and public dashboards of operations will build trust and prevent abuse,” she said.
WAANSA Nigeria, however, applauded the federal government, especially Office of the NSA, for turning policy into action.
“We have advocated this since 2021. But speed must not outrun safeguards. If we underinvest in training, neglect ROE, or ignore small-arms accountability, we would unintentionally escalate the very threats we seek to suppress – we must put the law in front of the gun,” the network said.
