FG Graduates Over 7,000 Forest Guards, Begins Immediate Nationwide Deployment
The Federal Government has graduated more than 7,000 Forest Guards drawn from seven frontline states, with immediate deployment to forested and hard-to-reach areas across the country to combat terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
The graduation followed the successful completion of a three-month intensive training programme under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative, launched in May 2025 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The programme is coordinated through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as a joint Federal–State security intervention aimed at reclaiming Nigeria’s forests from criminal elements.
Graduation ceremonies were held simultaneously on Friday in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara and Kebbi states.
Speaking at the ceremonies, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, described the initiative as a bold and strategic step to restore state authority in areas that have long served as safe havens for criminal groups.
“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.
He explained that the guards would be tasked with holding reclaimed territories, gathering actionable intelligence and supporting ongoing military and security operations to deny terrorists, bandits and kidnappers access to forest sanctuaries.
Ribadu confirmed that deployment would commence immediately after graduation, stressing that there would be no operational gap.
“There will be no delay between graduation and deployment. Salaries and allowances will commence immediately, and every certified guard will proceed directly to assigned duty posts,” he said.
According to him, the training programme was rigorous and professionally structured, combining environmental protection principles with advanced security skills tailored to forest operations.
Trainees underwent intensive physical and mental conditioning, including endurance drills, obstacle navigation and long-range patrol simulations. They were also trained in tactical fieldcraft, ambush response, rescue operations and coordinated offensive actions designed to dismantle criminal networks operating within forest zones.
The curriculum placed strong emphasis on ethics, professionalism, human rights, International Humanitarian Law and civilian protection. Arms handling and use of force were conducted strictly in line with approved protocols under an agreed Arms Management Manual.
Out of all participants, the programme recorded a 98.2 per cent completion rate. A total of 81 trainees were disqualified on disciplinary grounds, while two reportedly died due to pre-existing medical conditions. All successful trainees were certified and cleared for operational deployment.
The Forest Guards are indigenous to their respective local government areas, a strategy expected to improve terrain familiarity, intelligence gathering and community cooperation.
The initiative is an inter-agency national security programme established under the strategic guidance of ONSA, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment.
Operational coordination is handled by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Park Service, with doctrine and operational input from the Defence Headquarters, the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Governors and deputy governors from the seven participating states attended the graduation ceremonies, including Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, while other states were represented by their deputies.
Ribadu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding the Forest Guards Initiative nationwide, describing forest security as central to national stability.
“By protecting our forests, we are securing our territory. And by securing our territory, we are protecting our people,” he said.
