The Federal Government has deployed over 7,000 newly trained Forest Guards from seven frontline states as part of efforts to curb banditry, kidnapping and other security threats across the country.
The deployment followed the successful completion of a three-month intensive training programme under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May 2025.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
According to the statement, the initiative is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture by denying terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups safe haven within forested and hard-to-reach areas.
Graduation ceremonies for the Forest Guards were held simultaneously on Saturday in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara and Kebbi states.
Speaking at the ceremonies, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, described the programme as a decisive step toward restoring state authority and protecting vulnerable communities.
“These Forest Guards are not just uniformed personnel.
They are first responders, community protectors and a critical layer of Nigeria’s security architecture,” Ribadu said. “They will hold ground, gather intelligence and support security agencies in reclaiming territories previously overtaken by criminal elements.”
He explained that the training combined environmental conservation principles with advanced security skills, including rigorous physical and mental conditioning, endurance exercises, long-range patrol simulations and tactical fieldcraft.
The trainees were also equipped with skills in ambush response, rescue operations and coordinated offensive actions aimed at denying criminal groups sanctuary in forest areas.
Ribadu confirmed that deployment would commence immediately, adding that salaries and allowances for the certified Forest Guards would begin without delay.
“There will be no gap between graduation and deployment. All certified guards will proceed directly to their assigned duty posts,” he said.
The programme recorded a 98.2 per cent completion rate, with 81 trainees disqualified on disciplinary grounds and two deaths attributed to pre-existing medical conditions.
The NSA noted that the successful participants are expected to leverage their knowledge of local terrain and community trust to combat banditry, kidnapping and illegal forest exploitation.
The Nigerian Forest Guard initiative is an inter-agency programme coordinated by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Park Service, with operational support from the Defence Headquarters, Nigerian Army, Navy, Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment, Ribadu said the initiative would be expanded nationwide as part of sustained efforts to build a safer and more secure Nigeria.
Governors and deputy governors from the seven participating states were present at the graduation ceremonies.
