The Federal Government has expanded its Presidential Forest Guards Initiative to 10 states, with over 9,000 personnel trained to strengthen security across forests, border communities and other ungoverned areas serving as hideouts for kidnappers, bandits and other criminal groups.
The Office of the National Security Adviser disclosed this in a statement on Friday, noting that the programme is being coordinated by the ONSA and implemented under the operational leadership of the Department of State Services.
According to the statement, the latest phase of the initiative covers Kaduna, Edo and Kogi states, where more than 2,000 newly trained forest guards have completed their training and are awaiting deployment to identified security flashpoints.
The development follows the earlier graduation of over 7,000 forest guards deployed in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara and Kebbi states.
The ONSA said the initiative was being implemented in partnership with participating state governments to reclaim forests and remote communities exploited by criminal gangs for kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes.
Other agencies involved in the programme include the National Intelligence Agency, Defence Headquarters, the Nigeria Police Force and the National Park Service.
According to the statement, many of the recruits were selected from communities severely affected by insecurity because of their familiarity with local forests, footpaths, rivers, remote settlements and inter-state routes.
It explained that the recruits’ knowledge of the terrain would improve surveillance operations, intelligence gathering and access to difficult locations often beyond the reach of conventional security forces.
“Their local knowledge will significantly enhance intelligence-driven operations and strengthen security presence in vulnerable communities,” the statement said.
The ONSA added that all recruits underwent rigorous screening, background checks and security vetting to verify their identities, community records and suitability for security duties before enlistment.
It said the personnel also received specialised training in weapons handling, navigation, field craft, patrol operations, intelligence gathering and forest protection to prepare them for structured security operations.
According to the statement, the initiative is designed to cut off criminal groups from poorly monitored forest corridors frequently used to establish camps, hide abducted victims and move across communities and state boundaries.
It added that the forest guards would also serve as a bridge between rural communities and conventional security agencies by facilitating timely intelligence sharing and early warning on criminal activities.
The trained personnel, the ONSA said, would be deployed to forests, remote settlements, border communities and other vulnerable locations to support surveillance, intelligence-led operations and crime prevention efforts.
The governors of Kaduna, Edo and Kogi states were quoted as commending the National Security Adviser for coordinating the initiative, describing it as a strategic intervention to complement existing security measures.
The governors also pledged to support the welfare, deployment and operational activities of the forest guards in their respective states.
The ONSA said the broader objective of the initiative is to restore government presence in vulnerable communities, enhance the protection of rural residents and deny criminal groups safe havens in Nigeria’s forests.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
