The Federal Government has graduated over 7,000 newly recruited forest guards across seven frontline states, marking a significant milestone in its renewed push to reclaim Nigeria’s forests from terrorists, bandits and kidnappers.
The graduation ceremonies, held on December 27, 2025, took place simultaneously in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara and Kebbi states, following the completion of a three-month intensive training programme under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative.
Launched in May 2025 by President Bola Tinubu, the initiative is designed to strengthen internal security by denying criminal groups access to vast forest corridors long exploited as hideouts and operational bases. Each participating state was directed to recruit between 2,000 and 5,000 forest guards, largely drawn from local communities.
According to a statement issued by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the training covered physical conditioning, patrol operations, tactical movement, arms handling and use-of-force procedures, all conducted in line with an approved Arms Management Manual. The programme also included modules on ethics, legality and human rights, reflecting a deliberate effort to professionalise the new security layer.
The statement disclosed that 98.2 per cent of the recruits successfully completed the programme. However, 81 trainees were disqualified on disciplinary grounds, while two died due to pre-existing medical conditions.
“All successful participants have been fully certified and cleared for operational service,” ONSA said, noting that the graduation formally signals the commencement of forest guard operations after an initial seven-month delay.
National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, said the guards would be deployed immediately to support existing security agencies, gather actionable intelligence and protect 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 assured that there would be no gap between graduation and deployment, adding that salaries and allowances would commence without delay.
By prioritising the recruitment of guards indigenous to their local government areas, the government believes the initiative will leverage terrain familiarity and community trust in tackling banditry, kidnapping and the illegal exploitation of forest resources.
“By protecting our forests, we are securing our territory. And by securing our territory, we are protecting our people,” Ribadu stated, stressing that the programme would be expanded nationwide.
The Presidential Forest Guards Initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Department of State Services, the National Park Service, as well as the armed forces, police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as part of a broader strategy to reinforce Nigeria’s security architecture.
