Tinubu Directs Ribadu to Fast-Track Training and Arming of Forest Guards to Combat Kidnapping, Banditry

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to immediately accelerate the training and arming of additional forest guards as part of a renewed push to tackle kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism nationwide.

The directive, issued on Wednesday, strengthens earlier approvals for the creation of a national forest security service, a specialised unit tasked with securing the country’s forests, areas that have increasingly become hideouts for bandits and other criminal groups.

Speaking on the persistent security challenges, Tinubu said:
“We face challenges of kidnapping and terrorism. We need all the forces we can utilise. We need to protect our people.”

According to the Presidency, the expanded forest guard deployment will help improve security presence in remote and heavily forested regions where criminal networks operate with ease. The move aligns with broader national security measures introduced in recent months, including emergency declarations and increased recruitment within security agencies.

The NSA, in collaboration with relevant ministries and departments, has been instructed to speed up implementation so that well-trained and better-equipped personnel can be deployed to vulnerable communities without delay.

VIP Police Withdrawal Must Be Enforced – Tinubu

During Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting, President Tinubu reiterated his order for the withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs for redeployment to frontline policing. He expressed dissatisfaction with delays in carrying out the directive.

“I honestly believe in what I said… It should be effected,” Tinubu insisted. “If there is any challenge due to the nature of your assignment, contact the IGP and get my clearance.”

To ensure that VIPs are not left unprotected, the President instructed the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to work with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to replace withdrawn police escorts with civil defence personnel where necessary. “So that you don’t leave people exposed,” he added.

Tinubu also directed Ribadu and the Department of State Services (DSS) to harmonise enforcement and provide additional information on the implementation framework. He linked these measures to rising abductions, emphasising the need to “fully utilise all forces on the ground.”