Locals Must Lead Forest Guard, Abrak Tells Tinubu

A veteran journalist and chairman of the Northern Christian Youth Professionals, Isaac Abrak, has urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the newly approved Armed Forest Guard is led by community members who understand the pain of Nigeria’s insecurity crisis.

In an open letter to the president yesterday, Abrak stressed that the Forest Guard’s success hinges on recruiting locals—hunters and ex-servicemen with deep ties to their communities—rather than relying solely on external analysts.

“The Forest Guard must be led not by theories, data sheets, or Harvard-trained analysts alone—but by those who bleed when our villages bleed,” he wrote.

Abrak, who has reported from conflict zones for 16 years, argued that those perpetrating violence are often embedded within the communities they target.

“Whether Fulani, Tiv, or any other ethnic group, they are either complicit or enabling the violence,” he said, advocating for a community-driven approach to security.

He cited the success of Lagos State’s LASMA and LAWMA initiatives, which transformed local “Area Boys” into agents of order, and Borno’s Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), which empowered young men to repel Boko Haram.

“If implemented with sincerity, this initiative will succeed just like LASMA, LAWMA, and CJTF did,” Abrak said.

The journalist praised Tinubu for fulfilling his campaign promise to establish the Armed Forest Guard, describing it as a “game-changer” for Nigeria’s security.

He recalled Tinubu’s transformative leadership in Lagos, where bold innovations overcame criticism to deliver results.

However, Abrak acknowledged potential opposition to the initiative, noting that critics often focus on challenges rather than possibilities.

“Many of those who will oppose this are not the ones burying loved ones or watching their communities burn,” he wrote.

He urged the president to remain steadfast, calling the Forest Guard “our last option—and our best hope” to address Nigeria’s escalating insecurity.