By Usman Walin Gungura, Bauchi
Bauchi State has regained control of its key conservation areas, with the government reporting a sharp decline in poaching and illegal logging at Yankari Game Reserve and other protected sites, officials said at a press briefing in Bauchi on May 20, 2026.
The Managing Director and State Conservator-General of the Bauchi State Tourism Development Corporation, Dr. Muhammad Nasiru Yusuf, told journalists at the NUJ Secretariat in Bauchi that coordinated security operations, new technology, and upgraded facilities have turned around years of decline across the 2,244 sq km Yankari landscape.
“For some years, our conservation areas faced dual threats: the encroaching menace of sophisticated poachers, illegal loggers, and livestock grazers, alongside the broader regional security challenges of banditry,” Dr. Yusuf said.
“Today, I am proud to announce that through strategic resilience, heavily fortified collaborations, and targeted funding, we have successfully reclaimed the narrative. Our reserves are not only safe; they are thriving.”
The turnaround, the DG said, stems from overhauling the tactical framework across Yankari and neighboring ecosystems including Sumu Wildlife Park, Lame Bura, and Maladulba Lake and Forest Reserve.
According to him, forest rangers now operate with the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, and local vigilante groups to flush out criminal elements using the reserve as a hideout.
He explained that, in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the corporation has upgraded its Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool and deployed real-time GPS and satellite tracking collars on elephant herds.
The DG further disclosed that advanced video surveillance directs rangers to areas under threat, and WCS introduced regular aerial patrols using light aircraft to spot illegal canopy clearings, cattle encroachments, and poacher camps, relaying instantly to ground teams on motorbikes.
He noted that rangers received specialized training in night patrolling, modern interpretation, and community dialogue, alongside upgrades to weaponry and field kits.
The DG stated that the measures have led to a drastic drop in intrusions and fewer arrests of poachers and loggers as deterrence takes effect.
Alongside security, the DG said the state has invested in hospitality upgrades to meet international standards.
He pointed out that the iconic Wikki Warm Springs underwent a facelift with new hygienic changing rooms, modernized restrooms, and enhanced pavilion seating.
“The main restaurant, executive lodging rooms, and standard chalets were renovated.” He said.
The DG also said a 24/7 solar-powered lighting system was installed across the resort, camps, and administrative pathways to cut carbon emissions and noise pollution near wildlife habitats.
He disclosed that funding came from Bauchi State Government and the Federal Government through the World Bank’s Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACRESAL) project.
He said the ACRESAL intervention provided multi-million Naira support for new safari trucks, Wikki Warm Springs rehabilitation, and ranger equipment.
