Kaduna Deploys 1,000 Forest Guards to Tackle Insecurity, Deforestation

By Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Kaduna State Government has deployed 1,000 newly trained Forest Guards to remote areas of the state as part of efforts to strengthen security, protect forest reserves and address environmental degradation.

The deployment, initiated under the administration of Governor Uba Sani, is expected to improve security in the state’s forested hinterlands while supporting efforts to combat illegal logging, indiscriminate tree felling, wildlife poaching and other activities contributing to forest degradation.

The Climate Policy Adviser to the Governor, Mallam Yusuf Amoke, said the initiative represents a coordinated approach to addressing insecurity and environmental challenges.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, Amoke explained that forests should not be viewed solely as potential hideouts for criminal elements but also as important ecological assets requiring effective protection and management.

“When people look at our forests, they mainly see security vulnerabilities. From a climate policy perspective, ungoverned spaces tend to become degraded areas,” he said.

According to him, the activities of non-state actors in unsecured forest areas can contribute to illegal logging, uncontrolled tree cutting, wildlife poaching and other forms of environmental degradation.

Forest security and climate resilience

Amoke said Kaduna’s forest reserves play an important role in environmental protection, including carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation and efforts to mitigate desertification in northern Nigeria.

He noted that environmental programmes such as afforestation, land restoration and biodiversity conservation would be difficult to implement effectively in areas where government officials cannot operate safely.

“You can’t carry out afforestation, land restoration or biodiversity conservation in areas where resource management officers can’t operate safely,” he said.

Amoke added that Governor Sani’s decision to deploy the Forest Guards was therefore designed to address several challenges simultaneously by improving security in remote communities while protecting the state’s forest resources.

Ministry of Environment commended

The Climate Policy Adviser also commended the Kaduna State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources for its role in supporting the initiative.

He specifically praised the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Abubakar Buba, for what he described as his leadership and commitment to translating the governor’s environmental policies into practical programmes.

“An initiative of this scale requires solid institutional support, and I must acknowledge the Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Dr Buba,” Amoke said.

He said the ministry’s involvement would ensure that the Forest Guards contribute not only to security but also to the protection and sustainable management of Kaduna’s forest resources.

Tackling deforestation

Environmental experts have continued to warn that deforestation can worsen climate-related challenges by contributing to soil erosion, biodiversity loss and changes in local environmental conditions.

Amoke said restoring government presence in forest reserves would create an enabling environment for sustainable land management, ecosystem restoration and other climate adaptation measures.

He described the Forest Guards initiative as an example of how security and environmental policies can be integrated to address multiple challenges.

“Governor Uba Sani has demonstrated that effective security policy and climate policy go hand in hand,” Amoke said.

He added that while the immediate objective of the deployment was to improve the protection of lives, property and farming communities, the initiative could also contribute to safeguarding Kaduna State’s environmental resources for future generations.