Enugu Forest Guard Commander Meets Stakeholders, Declares State’s Forests No Longer Safe Havens for Criminals
By Oki Samson
Enugu State’s Forest Guard Commander, retired Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Olasoji Akinbayo, has vowed to rid the state’s forests of criminal elements, warning that the era of illegal grazing, armed herders, and unchecked forest encroachment is over.
Speaking on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, during two separate consultative meetings with security stakeholders in Enugu, DCP Akinbayo said the government will protect law-abiding residents while decisively enforcing state laws to ensure peace and security.
The first meeting brought together Fulani community leaders, including Ardos, Sarkin Fulani, elders, and youth representatives from the 17 local government areas. The second session was held with the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, comprising Igwes, elders, and cultural custodians.
Akinbayo, who was recently appointed by Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah to head the state’s Forest Guard after a distinguished police career, outlined the legal framework guiding his mandate:
- Law No. 7 of 2021 – Prohibits open grazing and mandates ranching.
- Law No. 8 of 2024 – Establishes the Public Ranch Management Agency.
- Law No. 12 of 2020 – Constitutes the Enugu State Forest Guard as a law enforcement agency.
While assuring the Fulani community that peaceful, registered herders will be protected and supported with technical and veterinary aid, the commander made it clear that no individual or group will be above the law.
“If you do not change with the law, the law will change you by force. Obey the law, respect the land, and join the peace — or face the consequences,” he warned.
The Fulani stakeholders welcomed the dialogue and pledged full compliance with the laws, noting the inclusion of their leaders in peace and security committees.
In his meeting with traditional rulers, Akinbayo appealed for cooperation in recruiting disciplined, morally upright youths into the Forest Guard, forming early warning systems, and strengthening local vigilance groups. He also urged royal fathers to stop illegal land transactions that undermine community security.
“If our own people undermine us from within, how can we defend our land from outsiders?” he asked.
The commander stressed that the Forest Guard is anti-crime, not anti-Fulani, and that all grazing must have the consent of land-owning families, communities, or the state.
He further revealed that the Enugu State Government, in collaboration with the National Security Adviser, AIG (Rtd) Nuhu Ribadu, is working to equip the Forest Guard with arms, drones, and federal-level integration into Nigeria’s national security grid.
Concluding, Akinbayo reaffirmed his mission:
“The forests of Enugu will no longer be safe havens for kidnappers. May our forests breathe again, may our youths find purpose through lawful service, and may our royal thrones be honoured for standing on the side of peace. The time for blame is over — the time for responsibility has come.”
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