Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on President Bola Tinubu to approve the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards for Borno State and dispatch a high-powered Federal Government delegation to the state in response to growing security challenges in the region.
Falana made the appeal in a statement on Monday, June 1, citing the Federal Government’s recent response to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State.
According to him, President Tinubu had on Sunday sent a high-powered Federal Government delegation to Oyo State, through Ibadan, in response to the May 15, 2026 kidnapping of dozens of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area near Ogbomoso.
He noted that after recognising that the Nigeria Police Force lacks adequate manpower to effectively police the country, the President approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State in collaboration with the state government.
Falana also referenced the President’s directive that a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities would be established to intensify efforts to secure the release of the 46 abducted pupils and teachers.
Drawing parallels with the security situation in Borno State, the human rights lawyer said the Federal Government should extend similar measures to the North-East state.
“In view of the fact that not less than 415 abducted schoolchildren and other citizens are in the illegal custody of bandits and terrorists in unknown forests in Borno State, President Tinubu should also dispatch a high-powered federal delegation to visit the state in solidarity with the people,” he said.
“The President should equally approve the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards for the state without any further delay.”
Falana stressed that the proposed forest guards must be adequately prepared for the task ahead.
“The forest guards must be well trained and fully equipped to confront the bandits and terrorists who are armed with AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons,” he stated.
Falana further argued that the Federal Government’s endorsement of the forest guard initiative should influence ongoing legal proceedings involving members of the Nigeria Forest Security Service.
“Since the Federal Government has now embraced the forest guard initiative, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, should discontinue the criminal case pending at the Federal High Court against the seven leaders and members of the Nigeria Forest Security Service forthwith,” he added.