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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the arming of forest guards across the country, marking a major shift in Nigeria’s security strategy as the government intensifies efforts to combat banditry, kidnapping and illegal mining in rural areas.
The President announced the decision on Wednesday during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, Abuja. He said the rising insecurity across many states requires a more decentralised and better-equipped security architecture.
“We need all the forces that we can utilise,” Tinubu told cabinet members, noting that forest guards—who traditionally operate without weapons—must now be empowered to function as effective frontline responders.
“The Civil Defence are equally armed, and our NSA should arm our forest guards too. Take it very seriously,” he directed.
The approval represents a significant elevation of the forest guards’ mandate, placing them at the centre of efforts to secure forests and remote corridors that have become operational bases for armed groups.
Tinubu also addressed concerns surrounding the ongoing withdrawal of police personnel from VIP security assignments, cautioning that the reassignments must not compromise community safety.
“If you have any difficulty as regards security because of the nature of your assignment, contact the IGP and get my clearance,” he said.
He further instructed the Minister of Interior to collaborate with the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that officers withdrawn from VIP duties are promptly replaced so that no community is left vulnerable.
“Replace those police officers who are on special security duties, so they don’t leave people exposed,” the President ordered.
Security experts have welcomed the directive, saying it could enhance surveillance and response capabilities in hard-to-reach areas. However, they cautioned that firearms deployment must be accompanied by rigorous training, strict operational guidelines and effective coordination with the police, military and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Tinubu urged relevant ministries and agencies to begin immediate implementation, describing the measure as critical to restoring public confidence and strengthening rural safety.
The policy comes amid mounting public pressure on the Federal Government to rein in escalating violence, particularly in states where thick forests have become strongholds for criminal networks.
