The Federal Government has graduated over 7,000 Forest Guards drawn from seven frontline states, ordering their immediate deployment to forested and hard-to-reach areas nationwide as part of intensified efforts to curb terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
The graduation followed the successful completion of a rigorous three-month training programme under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative, launched in May 2025 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Coordinated through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the initiative is designed as a joint Federal–State security intervention aimed at reclaiming Nigeria’s forests from criminal exploitation.
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 decisive step to restore state authority in areas that had long been exploited by criminal elements.
“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 hold ground, gather intelligence and support ongoing security operations to reclaim territories previously overrun by terrorists, bandits and kidnappers.
Ribadu confirmed that deployment would begin immediately, stressing that there would be no gap between graduation and operational duty.
“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.
The training programme was described as intensive and professionally structured, combining environmental conservation principles with advanced security competencies.
Trainees underwent demanding physical and mental conditioning, including endurance drills, obstacle navigation and long-range patrol simulations, to prepare them for sustained forest operations.
They were also trained in tactical fieldcraft, ambush response, rescue missions and coordinated offensive actions aimed at denying criminal groups safe havens within forest zones.
Strong emphasis was placed on ethics, professionalism, human rights, International Humanitarian Law and civilian protection, while arms handling strictly followed regulated use-of-force protocols under an approved Arms Management Manual.
The programme recorded a 98.2 per cent completion rate, with 81 trainees disqualified on disciplinary grounds. Two trainees reportedly died due to pre-existing medical conditions.
All successful participants were certified and cleared for operational deployment.
The Forest Guards are indigenous to their respective local government areas, a factor expected to enhance terrain familiarity, intelligence gathering and community trust.
The initiative is an inter-agency national security programme established under the strategic guidance of ONSA, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, and operationally coordinated by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Park Service.
It also draws doctrinal and operational input from the Defence Headquarters, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure unity of command and operational effectiveness.
Governors and Deputy Governors from the seven participating states attended the ceremonies, including Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, while other states were represented by their deputies.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s resolve to scale up the programme nationwide, Ribadu said forest security remained 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.
