Sign The Forest Security Bill-Mr. President, Please
BY PATRICK WEMAMBU
Nigeria has faced violent insurgencies for decades, ranking 6th on the 2025 Global Terrorism Index and accounting for 6% of global terrorism deaths in 2023. Since 2007, over 11,000 people have been killed, with millions more displaced. These insurgencies, especially in the North-East, North-Central and North-West, have severely impacted Nigeria’s local, state, and national socioeconomic fabric.
Key drivers of violent extremism in the nation include limited trust in the government, security forces and the justice system, limited socio-economic opportunities and religious conflicts. The Global Community Engagement
& Resilience Fund (GCERF) began investing in the country in 2016 and till date USD 11.75 million is said to have been invested to address these drivers of violent extremism. Examples of the intractable menace should suffice here.
The Daily Trust of Tuesday 13th May 2025 reports that suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked a Nigerian Army base in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State, killing an unspecified number of soldiers.
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Local and security sources confirmed the attack, stating that it occurred around 3:00 a.m. on Monday at the Forward Operating Base of the 153 Task Force Battalion. “ISWAP took control of Marte. An unknown number of soldiers were killed, some were captured, and many fled. They ran toward Dikwa and are now at the 24 Task Force Brigade in Dikwa.
“The terrorists also burned down armoured tanks and carted away arms and ammunition from the base,” a source told The Daily Trust.
May 15 2025, The Business Day newspaper reported that gunmen numbering over 30 abducted the traditional ruler of Akumarun Okoloke town, in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, Oba J.D. Ogunyanda.
The Washington Post May 18 2025 further reported militant attack on 2 villages in northeast Nigeria. At least 57 persons were said to have been killed – leaving about 70 individuals missing in one of the deadliest incidents in the country’s conflict-ridden northeast this month.
Foregoing instances represent a tip of the iceberg when the challenge of insecurity is diagnosed in the country. Which is why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must sign the Forest Security Bill to curb insecurity in the country.
The PUNCH newspaper of May 15 2025 reported that the Senate last Thursday urged Mr. President to give his assent to the Nigerian Forest Security Service (Establishment) Bill, 2025, which was recently passed by the National Assembly and is currently awaiting presidential approval to tackle insecurity.
This resolution was adopted after the submission of two bills sponsored by the Senate minority leader, Sen. Abba Moro and Sen. Sunday Karimi, strongly condemning the abduction of His Royal Highness, Oba James Dada Ogunyanda, the Obalohun of Okoloke, in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State as well as deadly attacks on communities in Benue State by suspected herdsmen.
In the first motion, the Senate had expressed dismay over the abduction of the Kogi monarch by suspected kidnappers who stormed his palace around midnight on Thursday, May 15, firing gunshots before whisking him away to an unknown location.
As lawmakers called for immediate security intervention across affected regions, they noted that the bill could be revisited to accommodate the President’s proposed Forest Guard initiative, aimed at curbing rising insecurity, particularly in forested and rural areas.
The Senate further urged the Federal Government to direct all security agencies to deploy their resources for the immediate rescue of the monarch.
Moro had informed the chamber of coordinated attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen on Akpete and Ojantele communities in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, which occurred on May 1 and May 7, respectively, killing more than a dozen residents.
The Daily Times hereby lends its voice to the clarion call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to append his golden signature to the Forest Security Bill on his presidential table. If anything, he will – through the instrumentality of his good offices – be writing his name in the annals of history – which will be etched in gold by that singular action. Mr. President, sign this piece of legislation, please.
