The Delta State Government says it has deployed 1,000 forest guards armed with AK-47 rifles as part of efforts to tackle criminal activities and improve safety in forested areas and vulnerable communities.
The Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, disclosed the deployment during a meeting with members of the Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association of Delta State at Government House in Asaba. He said the initiative forms part of the state’s wider security strategy.
According to Emu, the guards are expected to make it harder for bandits and other criminal groups to use forest corridors as hideouts or operational bases. The strategy also covers areas near neighbouring Bayelsa and Edo states, where criminal activity may cross state boundaries.
The government says improved security is essential to restoring public confidence and allowing residents to travel and conduct legitimate business without fear. Emu maintained that the state intends to sustain its security efforts so people can move around freely at different times of the day.
He also linked security to Nigeria’s wider economic challenges, arguing that businesses and communities need a stable environment to support recovery. While acknowledging the financial hardship facing Nigerians, he expressed optimism that conditions would improve as security agencies continued their operations.
Speaking to commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators, Emu urged association members to encourage discipline and responsible conduct among their ranks. He described transport operators as important partners in identifying security concerns and supporting efforts to protect lives and property.
The deployment adds to the state government’s efforts to strengthen security, but its impact will depend on how effectively the guards work with other agencies and respond to threats across forested areas. The government has not provided further details on the guards’ operational arrangements, including their specific locations and deployment timetable.
