The approval by the federal government to establish Forest Guards to flush out bandits and terrorists from the forests across the country has stirred reactions among Nigerians.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had days ago announced the establishment of Forest Guards and commencement of their employment to secure the 1,129 forests in the country.
The president directed that the forest guards are to be well-trained and armed to perform their duties which is essentially to flush out terrorists and criminal gangs hiding inside the forests for criminal activities. He stated that the recruitment was a collaborative efforts between federal government and state government and that thousands of young Nigerians would be employed as personnel of the outfit.
Reacting to the development, Pius Mordi, the National Publicity Secretary, Ubulu-Uku Kingdom Descendants Central Union, said, “This is a tacit admission that the occupation of ancestral sacred forests by elements associated with Fulani cattle herders is unlawful.”
Read also: Insecurity: FG begins deployment of guards to 1,129 forests, as Tinubu approves recruitments
Speaking during an exclusive interview with BusinessDay Sunday, he said the federal government should first make a pronouncement that such occupation is illegal and order them out.
“This declaration is important because when communities in southern states raised the alarm when it all began, some northern members of the National Assembly openly encouraged the occupation. That was when the occupiers became more brazen.”
According to him, “The idea of forest guards is okay for enforcement after the federal government must have made the formal declaration on the illegal occupation of ancestral forests.
“But, we are not comfortable with the role of Abuja in the initiative. It should be a task for the state and local governments.
“The initiative will be sabotaged and scuttled if the federal government should play any role beyond the training of people so recruited in weapon handling and other specialist activities.
”Having suggested the measure, the federal government should leave it entirely to state governments to take it from there.
“The federal government cannot be trusted. Ultimately, the final solution will come with the constitutional amendment to enable states establish their own Police,” Mordi said.
Jude Onyebadi, chief executive officer, Ifeanyichukwu Farms, Issele-Uku in Owerri South Local Government Area of Delta State, said, “We are looking forward to the implementation.”
Onyebadi is a priest cum big time farmer in Delta State whose farm engaged thousands of youths and women. He abandoned farming after he had been abducted thrice in two years and tortured by those he described as armed Fulani herdsmen who he said collected ransom running into millions from his friends and associates before releasing him each time they abducted him.
“Let’s watch out for the implementation (of the project announced by the federal government) and see if the government truly has the will to truly flush the terrorists out of the forests or whether it would be a matter of politics.
“You know, Nigeria has its own brand of politics that you can neither say it is democracy of autocracy.
“Let the implementation begin. It should not be about the federal and state alone but the local government and communities should also be in control of security.
“There should be adequate provision of funds for security because without funds, those recruited and employed for the job would not function properly.
“They should be fully empowered and provided for to take care of their families in order that they would be glad to make sacrifices for the society, bearing in mind that if they lose their lives while on duty, their families would not suffer.
“There are individuals that are ready to financially support, so all hands must be on desk if the project must succeed,” he expressed.
