The Federal Government has graduated more than 7,000 newly recruited forest guards across seven frontline states, marking a major step in its drive to strengthen internal security and deny criminal groups safe havens in forested areas.
The graduation ceremonies were held on December 27, 2025, in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara and Kebbi states under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative, launched in May by President Bola Tinubu.
The programme, coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), is designed to curb terrorism, banditry and kidnapping by securing forests that have long served as hideouts for criminal elements. Each participating state was directed to recruit between 2,000 and 5,000 forest guards.
According to ONSA, the recruits underwent a rigorous three-month training programme covering physical fitness, patrol operations, tactical movement, arms handling, use-of-force procedures, as well as ethics, legality and human rights.
A total of 98.2 per cent of the trainees successfully completed the programme. While 81 recruits were disqualified on disciplinary grounds, two died due to pre-existing medical conditions. All successful trainees have been certified and cleared for operational deployment.
National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said the guards would be deployed immediately to support existing security agencies, gather intelligence and protect vulnerable communities.
“These Forest Guards are not just uniformed personnel; they are first responders and community protectors who will help reclaim territories taken over by criminal elements,” Ribadu said. He added that salaries and allowances would commence immediately, with no delay between graduation and deployment.
The forest guards are indigenous to their local government areas, a strategy aimed at leveraging local knowledge, terrain familiarity and community trust in tackling insecurity and illegal exploitation of forest resources.
The 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.
The Federal Government said the programme would be expanded nationwide as part of its sustained effort to build a safer and more secure Nigeria.
