By Oki Samson
CITIZENS COMPASS—In his bid to restore peace, enhance forest security, and reinforce lawful use of land across Enugu State, the Commander of the Enugu Forest Guard, DCP Olasoji Akinbayo rtd, yesterday, held two separate consultative engagements with key security stakeholders in the state. The first meeting was with Fulani community leaders while the second one was with the Enugu State Council of traditional rulers, National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) can report.
Dr. Olasoji Akinbayo who meritoriously retired from the Nigeria Police as Deputy Commissioner of Police, DC in charge of Operations in Enugu State was given the nod by the Governor of Enugu State, Gov. Mbah to continue the good work as Commander of Enugu Forest Guard security outfit. His first strategy was to engage with the stakeholders in the state. He thanked Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for giving him the opportunity while also appreciating the royal institutions, and Fulani leaders for supporting his historic intervention.
With this move, the Commander Olasoji presented a United Front for Peace, Security, and Development and positions the Enugu State Forest Guard as a community-owned, law-driven, and federally integrated force committed to combating forest-related crime, preventing inter-ethnic violence, protecting farmers and herders alike, and restoring the dignity of rural life in the State.
Speaking with the Fulani community comprising the Ardos, Sarkin Fulani, Elders, Youth Leaders, and Fulani stakeholders across the 17 LGAs of Enugu State, Dr. Olasoji Akinbayo Olasunkanmi emphasized that the era of open grazing, illegal forest encroachment, and unchecked movement of armed herders had ended. He clearly outlined the three laws now governing forest, grazing, and cattle activities in the State:
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: Establishes the Enugu State Forest Guard as a law enforcement agency.
He stressed that while the Government respects cultural traditions, no group or individual will be above the law, declaring: ‘If you do not change with the law, the law will change you by force. But if you align with peace, the government will stand by you. In return, the Government committed to Protecting all peaceful and registered herders, Supporting legal ranching systems with technical and veterinary aid, Providing multilingual engagement and dispute resolution platforms, and Including Fulani leaders in formal security and peace committees.’
The Fulani stakeholders expressed appreciation for the opportunity to dialogue and pledged to cooperate with the State in full compliance with the new legal frameworks.
In the second meeting with the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers which comprised the Igwes, Traditional Rulers, Elders, and Cultural Custodians from all zones of the State, the State Forest Guard Commander described the gathering as ‘a covenant, not just a meeting’. Dr. Olasoji delivered an emotional homecoming message, noting his deep ancestral and professional ties to the Southeast. He briefed the traditional rulers on the outcome with the Fulani community and gave a clear explanation of the legal instruments backing Forest Guard enforcement and then made a passionate appeal to traditional rulers to identify, screen, and nominate disciplined and morally upright youths from their communities for recruitment into the Forest Guard. He called for early warning systems, community intelligence sharing, and local vigilance teams to be formed under royal endorsement.
Olasoji declared: ‘This is my third missionary journey to the East. But this time, it is not for a post – it is for a purpose: to secure our forests and protect our rural dignity.’
He addressed issues of illegal land transactions and internal sabotage, urging the traditional leaders to investigate and stop the unauthorized sale or leasing of communal forest land to unauthorized settlers, noting:
“If our own people undermine us from within, how can we defend our land from outsiders?”
The Commander reaffirmed the support of the Federal Government, especially the active collaboration between Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and the National Security Adviser, AIG (Rtd) Nuhu Ribadu, to secure arms, drones, and federal-level integration of the Forest Guard into Nigeria’s national security grid.
The Enugu State Government is in direct consultation with the National Security Adviser, AIG (Rtd) Nuhu Ribadu for federal support which will involve Procurement of arms and drone surveillance; Integration into the national security grid and Funding support for logistics and deployment.
He noted that ‘Forest Guard is not anti-Fulani, but anti-crime. All land belongs to families, communities, or the State — no grazing without consent. Traditional rulers are the gatekeepers of local security. Peaceful herders will be protected, not harassed. Communities must report suspicious movements and reject internal saboteurs.’
‘We will not punish the innocent, but we will not protect the guilty. The Forests of Enugu will no longer be safe havens for kidnappers. Traditional thrones must become command centers of peace. This is not about the past. This is about the future we must build together. The message is clear:
Obey the law. Respect the land. Join the peace — or face the consequences’, Olasoji noted.
The Commander DCP Olasoji Akinbayo Olasunkanmi (retd) concluded: ‘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 in a time of crisis. Enugu has spoken — through law, leadership, and dialogue. The time for blame is over. The time for responsibility has come. Together, we will reclaim our forests, restore our communities, and redefine the future.’
