FG to deploy over 7,000 forest guards immediately

The Federal Government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has announced the graduation of more than 7,000 newly recruited Forest Guards drawn from seven frontline states across the country.
The disclosure was made in a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Rabiu Ibrahim.

He explained that the graduation followed the successful completion of an intensive three-month training programme conducted under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative, which was launched by President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, in May 2025.
According to Ibrahim, the initiative is a coordinated Federal–State security effort aimed at reclaiming Nigeria’s forests from criminal elements and preventing their use as safe havens for illegal activities. Graduation ceremonies were held on December 27, 2025, in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara and Kebbi States.
The programme is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security framework by denying terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups access to forested and difficult terrains. The training was deliberately rigorous, structured and demanding, with the goal of transforming committed Nigerians into disciplined, agile and effective field operatives.
The curriculum combined environmental conservation principles with advanced security training to produce a balanced, professional and mission-ready force. Trainees underwent extensive physical and mental conditioning, including endurance drills, obstacle courses and long-range patrol simulations, to prepare them for sustained forest operations.
They were also trained in tactical fieldcraft such as movement techniques, enemy-contact drills, ambush response, rescue missions and coordinated offensive operations, equipping them to deny criminal groups any form of sanctuary within Nigeria’s forests.
Equally important to the programme was a strong emphasis on ethics, legality and professionalism. The training focused on human rights, International Humanitarian Law (IHL), gender rights and the protection of civilians. Arms handling and use-of-force procedures were strictly guided by an Arms Management Manual jointly agreed upon by all participating agencies.
Speaking at the graduation ceremonies, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, described the initiative as a decisive move towards restoring state authority and safeguarding vulnerable communities. He said the Forest Guards would serve as first responders, community protectors and a vital layer of Nigeria’s security architecture by holding ground, gathering intelligence and supporting other security agencies in reclaiming territories previously taken over by criminals.
Ribadu confirmed that deployment would begin immediately, stressing that there would be no delay between graduation and operational duties. He added that salaries and allowances would commence right away, with all certified guards proceeding directly to their assigned duty posts.
The training programme recorded a completion rate of 98.2 per cent. While 81 trainees were disqualified on disciplinary grounds, two others died due to pre-existing medical conditions. All successful participants have been fully certified and cleared for operational service.
The graduating Forest Guards are indigenous to their respective local government areas, enabling them to rely on local knowledge, terrain familiarity and community trust in tackling banditry, kidnapping and illegal exploitation of forest resources.
The Nigerian Forest Guard is an inter-agency national security initiative established under the leadership and strategic guidance of the National Security Adviser, 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 strategic and doctrinal input from the Defence Headquarters, 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 ceremonies, including Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, while other states were represented by their deputy governors.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s resolve, Ribadu said protecting Nigeria’s forests is central to securing the nation’s territory and safeguarding its people, adding that the initiative would be expanded nationwide as part of ongoing efforts to build a safer and more secure country.