The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Malam Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, has clarified that the recruitment of 1,000 Forest Guards approved for Oyo State is not a programme designed exclusively for the South-West region.
Abdulaziz made the clarification on Monday against the backdrop of reactions from some Nigerians, particularly from the northern part of the country, following reports on the planned recruitment in Oyo State.
According to him, some people had expressed concerns on social media, suggesting that the initiative was being introduced solely for the Yoruba region due to prevailing security challenges.
“Since yesterday when newspapers began reporting the plan to recruit 1,000 Forest Guards in Oyo State following recent kidnapping incidents, some people from Northern Nigeria have been expressing concerns on social media, suggesting that the initiative is meant only for the Yoruba region because of its security challenges.
“However, this perception is incorrect,” he said.
The presidential aide disclosed that no fewer than nine states had already established Forest Guard units, with each state recruiting about 1,000 personnel.
He listed the states as Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Kwara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau and Benue.
Abdulaziz further revealed that Kaduna, Edo, Kogi and Bauchi states were also in the process of establishing similar security outfits.
He explained that the recruitment exercise was part of broader efforts by federal governments at various levels to strengthen security and combat criminal activities in forests and remote communities across the country.
The presidential spokesman stressed that the initiative “should not be viewed as a programme designed for any particular region or ethnic group.”
The Federal Government recently approved the recruitment of 1,000 Forest Guards in Oyo State in collaboration with the state government as part of measures to address insecurity.
President Tinubu also directed a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities to intensify efforts toward securing the release of abducted pupils and teachers in the state.
The clarification comes amid ongoing public discussions on security measures being adopted by federal and state governments to tackle kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities nationwide.
