By Shafa’atu Suleiman, Sokoto
The Special Adviser to the Sokoto State Governor on Security, Colonel Ahmed Usman (rtd), has warned against the proposed recruitment and deployment of forest guards for counterinsurgency operations in the state. He said that the move could worsen Nigeria’s already fragile security situation.
While acknowledging the vital role forest guards play in protecting the nation’s forests, wildlife, and natural resources. He, however, stressed that their core responsibilities do not align with the demands of high-risk security or anti-insurgency operations.
According to him, the forest guards are primarily responsible for safeguarding environmental assets, combating illegal logging, and preventing poaching. While they may undergo basic security training, they are neither structured nor equipped for the complexities of frontline combat or counterterrorism.
He said countering terrorism should remain the domain of trained security agencies like the police, military, and specialized forces, adding that deploying undertrained forest guards to volatile zones would create a weak link in the nation’s security architecture and expose them to unnecessary risk.
“Without a clear mandate and proper training, sending forest guards into conflict-prone areas may result in chaos and confusion, compounding our security challenges rather than resolving them,” he cautioned.
Instead, Col. Usman advocated for a community-driven approach to security, emphasizing the importance of grassroots engagement, local intelligence, and trust-building to address the root causes of insecurity.
He said by working collaboratively with local communities, threats can be mitigated more effectively and avoid adding another layer of vulnerability to an already overstretched system.