Governor Peter Mbah Launches Enugu State Forest Guards with Sophisticated Weapons to Protect Citizens

Governor Peter Mbah Launches Enugu State Forest Guards with Sophisticated Weapons to Protect Citizens

In a bold and decisive move to consolidate the security gains recorded in Enugu State over the past two and a half years, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah on Wednesday, December 4, 2025, officially launched the newly revitalized Enugu State Forest Guard equipped with highly sophisticated weaponry, drones, armored patrol vans, motorcycles, and cutting-edge communication gadgets.

The colourful ceremony, held at the Government House Ground in Enugu, marked a turning point in the state-level security architecture in South-East Nigeria and indeed the entire country. The Forest Guard, now transformed from a near-moribund outfit into a well-trained, well-kitted, and highly motivated paramilitary force, has been mandated to dominate the vast forest reserves across the state’s 17 local government areas and deny criminals the sanctuary they once enjoyed.

From Neglect to Professionalism: The Journey So Far

Before Governor Mbah assumed office in May 2023, the Enugu State Forest Guard existed largely in name only. Underfunded, under-equipped, and poorly motivated, the guards could do little more than watch helplessly as illegal loggers, kidnappers, and bandits turned the state’s thick forests into safe havens for crime.

According to Daily trust within months of taking the oath of office, Governor Mbah began a systematic overhaul of the security ecosystem. In June 2025, he announced a new minimum wage of ₦80,000 for forest guards the highest in the country for such a cadre alongside insurance packages and improved welfare. In September 2025, he appointed seasoned security experts to head the agency and approved massive recruitment and retraining exercises in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, Police, and Civil Defence.

The result is the force that took centre stage on Wednesday: over 1,200 smartly turned-out operatives kitted in new camouflage uniforms, armed with modern assault rifles, equipped with body cameras, and backed by a fleet of drones for aerial surveillance.

Sophisticated Arsenal for a Sophisticated Threat

Speaking during the flag-off, Governor Mbah emphasized that the nature of contemporary security threats demanded a departure from outdated methods.

“We are not arming forest guards because we want war,” he declared. “We are arming them because criminals have become more daring, more organized, and more lethal. When kidnappers operate with AK-47s and herdsmen attack communities with military-grade weapons, it is the height of irresponsibility for government to send men with only dane guns and cutlasses to confront them.”

The weapons unveiled include:

•  Tavor X95 and Galil ACE assault rifles (Israeli-made, battle-proven platforms already in use by the Nigerian military)

•  Night-vision goggles and thermal imaging devices

•  Armored patrol vans with mounted surveillance masts

•  Long-range drones capable of real-time video feed to the state’s Distress Response Command Centre

•  Encrypted radio communication systems

•  Ballistic helmets and level-IV body armour

These tools, the governor explained, will enable the Forest Guard to conduct 24-hour patrols, rapid response operations, and intelligence-led ambushes against criminal elements hiding in forests such as Akpugo, Ngwo, Adada, Iva Valley, and Udi-Nsukka axis. (ESBS Enugu TV)

A Multi-Layered Security Architecture

The launch of the Forest Guard is only the latest addition to what has become one of the most comprehensive state-level security frameworks in Nigeria. Since 2023, Enugu State has invested heavily in:

•  Over 150 security patrol vehicles with trackers and dash-cams

•  More than 100 electric motorcycles for last-mile mobility

•  A state-of-the-art Security Command and Control Centre powered by artificial intelligence

•  8,000 CCTV cameras with facial recognition across Enugu metropolis and major towns

•  A 24/7 Distress Response Squad reachable via a dedicated toll-free line (1911)

With the Forest Guard now fully operational, Governor Mbah says the state has effectively closed all known criminal corridors previously exploited by criminals.

Public Reactions: Applause, Caution, and Hope

The launch has elicited widespread commendation from residents, traditional rulers, and civil society groups. The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing described it as “the most practical step any South-East governor has taken against insecurity in recent times.” Market women in Oji River and artisans in Nsukka have expressed relief that the forests surrounding their communities will no longer serve as launchpads for attacks.

However, a section of social media users and civil liberties advocates have raised concerns about the risk of weapon proliferation and potential abuse by overzealous operatives. In response, the Mbah administration has promised that every forest guard has undergone rigorous background checks, psychological evaluation, and human rights training. Body cameras are mandatory during operations, and a special oversight committee chaired by a retired judge has been inaugurated to investigate any allegation of misconduct.

Beyond Security: Economic and Environmental Dividends

Governor Mbah also highlighted the economic and ecological benefits. Illegal logging has cost Enugu billions of naira in lost revenue and contributed to climate change through deforestation. With the Forest Guard now able to enforce the state’s ban on indiscriminate tree felling, the administration hopes to revive timber-based revenue, protect watersheds, and attract eco-tourism investments.

Already, the state has signed agreements with private investors to establish modern wood processing factories on the condition that raw materials will come only from government-approved plantations, a policy that will create thousands of jobs while preserving natural forests.

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A Model for Other States?

Security analysts believe Enugu’s model could be replicated across Nigeria’s forest-rich states. Unlike the controversial community policing experiments in some regions, the Enugu Forest Guard operates directly under the state government with clear command structure, standardized training, and direct oversight from the Governor’s Office. This eliminates the fragmentation and loyalty conflicts that have plagued similar initiatives elsewhere.

As the ceremony ended with a spectacular parade and demonstration of drone operations, Governor Mbah reiterated his administration’s zero-tolerance for insecurity: “Our goal is simple, to make Enugu one of the three most peaceful and livable states in Nigeria by 2031. Today, we have taken a giant step toward that dream.”

For the people of Enugu State, the sight of well-armed, well-trained forest guards marching in perfect unison offered more than military spectacle. It offered hope that the days of sleeping with one eye open are finally coming to an end.