Forest Guards Are For Wildlife – Sowore Criticizes Tinubu’s Strategy

Forest Guards Are For Wildlife – Sowore Criticizes Tinubu’s Strategy

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Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has criticised the Federal Government’s forest guard initiative, arguing that the programme is being presented as a security solution despite its traditional role in wildlife and forest protection.

LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT

Sowore said forest guards are generally trained to monitor forests, protect natural resources and prevent environmental crimes, not to carry out complex security operations such as rescuing kidnap victims or confronting heavily armed criminal groups.

LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT

His remarks come as the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu expands the recruitment and deployment of forest guards in several states to help tackle insecurity, banditry and kidnapping in forested areas across the country.

According to Sowore, the government needs a clearer and more coordinated security strategy, warning that assigning roles beyond the training and capacity of forest guards could create operational challenges.

His comments add to the ongoing debate over the effectiveness of new measures being introduced to address Nigeria’s security crisis.