President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Ribadu, to immediately train, arm, and deploy additional forest guards across Nigeria to strengthen efforts against rising cases of kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism.
The directive was announced on Wednesday in a statement by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications.
Tinubu emphasised that Nigeria continues to face widespread security challenges that require a coordinated and proactive response. “We face challenges here and there of kidnapping and terrorism. We need all the forces we can utilize. We need to protect our people,” he said.
Separately, the Senate has begun consideration of Tinubu’s request seeking approval to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin. The deployment aims to support the neighbouring country’s democratic institutions following an attempted military coup over the weekend.
The request, presented to the Senate by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, cites Section 5(4) Part II of the 1999 Constitution and consultations with the National Defence Council. Lawmakers have referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for detailed deliberation, with discussions on the scope, legality, and implications expected in the coming hours.
