Establishing Forest Guards Is An Error—Lawrence Alobi, Former FCT Police Commissioner

Establishing Forest Guards Is An Error

OpenLife Nigeria reports that a former Police Commissioner in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr. Lawrence Alobi, has faulted the proposed establishment of Forest Guards by the federal government to protect the country against attacks from insurgents.

According to reports, President Bola Tinubu, days ago, approved the establishment and recruitment of Forest Guards to secure Nigeria’s 1,129 forests.

Government said that the newly formed unit will be trained, armed, and tasked with flushing out terrorists and criminal gangs using forested areas as hideouts.

The initiative, according to reports, is a joint security effort between the federal and state governments. The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Ministry of Environment have been directed to oversee its full implementation.

Thousands of young Nigerians are expected to be employed as part of the new security outfit.

Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to national security, President Tinubu warned that no part of Nigeria’s territory would be ceded to terrorists or bandits. He vowed that Nigeria will take back its forests.

Reacting on Thursday afternoon, a retired Commissioner of Police, Lawrence Alobi stated that the idea to create a new security unit was not well thought out by the government.

Speaking on Arise TV, Alobi asked how the Forest Guards would be trained.

“It is a good idea. But how are they going to be trained? Who regulates the Forest Guards. Will the Forest Guards have the capacity to confront the armed Boko Haram?

If they are not well trained, there will be problem because if they confront bandits, the bandits will capture them and seize their arms. These questions need to be addressed so that the objective will be achieved.

My suggestion is that the federal government should expand the police and the military to tackle Boko Haram. These are military formation that are already in existence.

Bandits are carrying sophisticated weapons. They are ready to die and destroy. Why not empower the police rather than proliferation of security agencies?

Government should increase the earnings of police and improve on technology. Forest Guards is not the best option.

If I have my way, I will advise the president to expand the Police force.”