The Federal Government has graduated more than 7,000 newly recruited forest guards and ordered their immediate deployment across seven frontline states as part of renewed efforts to combat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities thriving in Nigeria’s forests.
The guards, trained under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative launched by President Bola Tinubu in May 2025, completed an intensive three-month programme coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Graduation ceremonies were held simultaneously on Friday in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara and Kebbi states.
The initiative is a joint Federal–State security intervention aimed at reclaiming forest reserves and hard-to-reach terrains that have increasingly served as safe havens for criminal gangs.
Speaking at the ceremonies, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, described the programme as a critical addition to Nigeria’s internal security architecture.
“These forest guards are not just uniformed personnel. They are first responders, community protectors and a vital layer of our national security framework. Their task is to hold ground, gather intelligence and support other security agencies in reclaiming territories overtaken by criminal elements,” Ribadu said.
He disclosed that there would be no delay between graduation and deployment, stressing that salaries and allowances would commence immediately.
“Every certified guard will move straight to assigned duty posts. There is no gap between training and operations,” he added.
According to the NSA, the training was deliberately rigorous, combining physical endurance drills, long-range patrol simulations and tactical fieldcraft such as ambush response, rescue operations and coordinated offensive actions.
He noted that the curriculum also emphasised professionalism, ethics and respect for human rights, with trainees taught International
Humanitarian Law, civilian protection, gender rights and regulated use-of-force procedures.
Out of the total recruits, Ribadu said 98.2 per cent successfully completed the programme, while 81 trainees were disqualified on disciplinary grounds. Two others reportedly died due to pre-existing medical conditions.
He explained that the forest guards were recruited from their local government areas to enhance terrain familiarity and community trust, a strategy expected to improve intelligence gathering and operational effectiveness.
The Nigerian Forest Guard scheme is an inter-agency initiative led by the Office of the National Security Adviser in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, and operationally coordinated by the Department of State Services and the National Park Service.
It also draws strategic and operational input from the Defence Headquarters, the Nigerian Army, Navy, Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Governors and deputy governors from the participating states attended the graduation ceremonies, including the Governors of Kwara and Yobe states, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Mai Mala Buni.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment, Ribadu said the initiative would be expanded nationwide.
“By protecting our forests, we are securing our territory. And by securing our territory, we are protecting our people. This programme will continue to grow as part of our determination to build a safer Nigeria,” he said.
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