Gumi supports forest guards, slams aerial bombings

An Islamic scholar, Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi has endorsed the establishment of the Nigerian Forest Security Service, NFSS, to flush out bandits from forests across the country.

The cleric has also urged the proposed outfit to deploy decisive military force in tackling criminal elements.

Speaking during his Ramadan Tafsir on Tuesday in Kaduna, Gumi, however, cautioned against the use of aerial bombardments, warning that such operations could result in civilian casualties.

He cited the tragic incident at Tudun Biri in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where more than 100 residents were reportedly killed in a mistaken airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force.

According to the cleric, while confronting banditry requires firm and coordinated action, the deployment of bombs in forest operations poses significant risks to innocent communities residing within or around affected areas.

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Gumi observed that bandits operating in parts of the country had become increasingly dangerous and brutal, attributing the development to alleged external influences aimed at destabilizing the nation.

He said the trend appeared to validate his earlier concerns that bandits’ groups could evolve into full-fledged terrorist organizations, if not decisively addressed.

The cleric also called on the authorities to adopt strategies that would effectively dislodge criminal elements from forest enclaves while ensuring the protection of civilian lives.

A few months ago, President Bola Tinubu approved the establishment of a national forest guard system and ordered the recruitment of over 130,000-armed operatives to secure the country’s 1,129 forest reserves.

The initiative, approved during Monday’s expanded Federal Executive Council meeting, mandates each state to recruit between 2,000 and 5,000 forest guards based on their capacity.

The Office of the National Security Adviser and the Ministry of Environment will supervise the recruitment and training.

A rough projection of 3,500 recruits per state translates to over 130,000 new forest guards, including those for the Federal Capital Territory.

States are required to hire between 2,000 and 5,000 highly trained and heavily armed forest guards, with the exact number depending on their financial resources. The Office of the National Security Adviser and the Ministry of Environment will oversee this recruitment process.

A rough estimate of about 3,500 recruits per state would result in the recruitment of at least 130,000 forest guards across the states and the Federal Capital Territory

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare posted on his X handle: “Forest Guards Established by Federal Government.

“President Tinubu has approved 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.

“This recruitment is a security collaborative effort between the federal and state governments. The office of the NSA and the Ministry of Environment have been directed to take charge and ensure full implementation.

“Thousands of young Nigerians are expected to be employed as personnel of the outfit,” the statement read.

NAN