ABUJA – As Nigeria grapples with persistent threats from bandits, terrorists, and kidnappers, a prominent peace advocate and intelligence specialist has voiced optimism that the country stands on the brink of decisively curbing its security woes, crediting National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu’s innovative strategies.

Dr. John Metchie, Deputy Commander-General (Intelligence) of the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), described Ribadu’s leadership as marked by “strategic brilliance and uncommon resolve,” positioning the NSA’s flagship Forest Security Service Special Guard Initiative as the long-overdue solution to the nation’s recurring violence.

In a statement on Thursday, Metchie argued that Nigeria’s vast forests—spanning over nine million hectares and long serving as ungoverned havens for criminal networks—represent the critical “missing link” in the country’s security framework.

“Forests are always a potential breeding ground for terrorism. If you do not dominate the forests, you cannot defeat criminals,” he said. “The NSA has now taken over that domain, that is why this menace will stop in a matter of months.”

The initiative, approved by President Bola Tinubu in May as part of a broader national forest policing drive, calls for the recruitment and deployment of up to 130,000 specialized guards across states to reclaim 1,129 forest reserves from insurgents and outlaws.

Ribadu’s office, alongside the Ministry of Environment, oversees the program, which integrates advanced tools like drones, satellite tracking, and night-vision units into training modeled on global counter-guerrilla tactics.

Metchie praised the guards’ specialized preparation for rugged terrains, contrasting it with urban-focused traditional policing. “Ribadu’s forest guards are trained precisely for this terrain… The training and equipping happening now have never been seen in Nigeria. Ribadu is rewriting the security narrative,” he added.

Enugu State exemplifies the initiative’s momentum, with Governor Peter Mbah restructuring its Forest Guard corps and announcing recruitment for 1,000 personnel across 17 local government areas to bolster patrols and community nominations.

The guards, armed with modern rifles, patrol vans, drones, and motorbikes, aim to disrupt hideouts and safeguard farmlands, complementing federal efforts.

Metchie urged nationwide adoption: “If every state keys in, insecurity will be defeated faster than expected. The forest guard initiative is the game changer.”

Ribadu echoed this hope during a December 4 dialogue on conflict prevention in Abuja, organized by the National Peace Committee and his office, where he acknowledged Nigeria’s “painful times” but affirmed that terrorism would soon be history through collaborative, community-driven action.

He highlighted 775 terrorism convictions and international support from the US, UK, and France as signs of progress.

Yet, as states like Kaduna and Ondo lag in recruitment, critics warn that uneven implementation could blunt the initiative’s impact amid ongoing attacks.

Metchie, however, remains bullish: “If this momentum is sustained, the war against terror will be won in a matter of months.”