Abuja: Boko Haram, the extremist group notorious for its campaign of terror, has fortified its operations within Nigeria's forests, particularly in the vast and dense Sambisa forest. This transformation of the forest into a terrorist stronghold occurred after the Nigerian military expelled the group from urban areas like Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.According to Deutsche Welle, the Sambisa forest, once a wildlife game reserve, spans approximately 60,000 square kilometers and extends over several northeastern states including Borno, Yobe, Gombe, and Bauchi. Its proximity to the borders of Chad and Cameroon has enabled Boko Haram to launch attacks and instill fear across communities. This strategy of utilizing forests as operational bases has been replicated in other regions of Nigeria, with forest reserves such as Kainji, Kwiambana, Kamuku, and Alawa National Parks becoming refuges for terrorist and bandit groups.Nigeria's forest reserves, originally protected from resource extraction, now suffer from weak governance, corruption, and chronic under-funding, leading to vast unmonitored areas. Malik Samuel, a senior researcher at Good Governance Africa, notes that these unprotected forests offer shelter and livelihood options for armed groups, enabling them to exploit these spaces and evade detection.The difficult terrain, isolation, and limited road access make these forests ideal for terror groups. According to analyst Ladd Serwat from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) organization, these groups use the forests for illicit trades that fund their activities, gaining favor among local communities by allowing economic activities otherwise restricted by the state.The impact on local communities is severe, as reserves and forests have become sources of terror, displacing farmers and imposing taxes and ransom on locals. Samuel highlights the resulting food insecurity due to farmers' inability to access their land, exacerbating malnutrition in northern Nigeria.Conservation efforts have suffered significantly as armed groups exploit natural resources, presenting themselves as alternative governance structures by engaging in local economic empowerment and conflict resolution activities.In response, the Nigerian government has recently trained over 7,000 forest guards to protect these areas. However, Serwat emphasizes that sustainable solutions should involve strengthening forest governance and enhancing intelligence gathering, rather than relying solely on militarized enforcement. The livelihoods of local populations must be prioritized to foster strong relations and effectively address the region's challenges.