Tinubu Orders NSA Ribadu To Immediately Train, Arm More Forest Guards To Tackle Kidnapping, Terror Attacks
President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Security Adviser (NSA) to begin the immediate training, arming, and deployment of additional forest guards nationwide as part of renewed efforts to confront Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
The directive was disclosed on Wednesday in a statement issued by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications.
According to the presidency, Tinubu said the country continues to battle rampant cases of kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism—threats he insists require a more aggressive and coordinated response.
"We face challenges here and there of kidnapping and terrorism. We need all the forces we can utilize," the President was quoted as saying. “We need to protect our people.”
SaharaReporters previously reported that the Senate on Tuesday began consideration of President Bola Tinubu’s request seeking approval to deploy Nigerian troops to the Benin Republic as part of efforts to safeguard the neighbouring country’s democratic institutions.
The request, contained in a letter read on the Senate floor by President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, detailed Tinubu’s explanation that the troops would be sent on a Peace Mission “in compliance with Section 5(4) Part II of the 1999 Constitution” and after “due consultations with the National Defence Council.”
Tinubu informed lawmakers that the deployment followed a formal plea from the Republic of Benin in response to the attempted military coup in the country over the weekend.
The Senate subsequently referred the request to the ‘Committee of the Whole’ for immediate deliberation, with lawmakers expected to debate the scope, legality and implications of the proposed deployment in the coming hours.