FG To Deploy 7,000 Guards To Bandit-Infested Forests

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has announced the graduation of over 7,000 newly recruited forest guards drawn from seven frontline states to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture.

This followed the successful completion of an intensive three-month training programme under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative launched by President Bola Tinubu in May 2025.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to Minister of Information and National Orientation, Malam Rabiu Ibrahim, in Abuja.

According to the statement, the initiative represents a coordinated Federal–State security intervention aimed at reclaiming Nigeria’s forests from criminal exploitation.

Ibrahim said the graduation ceremonies were held across seven states of Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi.

“The programme is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture by denying terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal groups sanctuary within forested and hard-to-reach terrains.

“The training programme was deliberately intensive, structured, and demanding, designed to transform loyal and committed Nigerians into agile, disciplined, and capable field operatives.

“The curriculum integrated environmental conservation principles with advanced security competencies, ensuring a balanced, professional, and mission-ready force.

“Equally central to the programme was a strong emphasis on ethics, legality, and professionalism,”.

Ibrahim said the curriculum placed significant focus on human rights, International Humanitarian Law (IHL), gender rights, and the protection of civilians and many others.

The statement also quoted the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, as saying, “these Forest Guards are not just uniformed personnel, but first responders, community protectors, and a critical layer of Nigeria’s security architecture.

“They will hold ground, gather intelligence, and support security agencies in reclaiming territories previously overtaken by criminal elements.

“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.

“By protecting our forests, we are securing our territory and by securing our territory, we are protecting our people. The Federal Government will not relent.

“This initiative will expand nationwide as part of our sustained effort to build a safer and more secure Nigeria,” Ribadu said.

The statement further explained that the training programme recorded a 98.2 per cent completion rate.

It added that a total of 81 trainees were disqualified on disciplinary grounds, while two trainees passed away due to pre-existing medical conditions.

“All successful participants have been fully certified and cleared for operational service.

“They are indigenous to their respective local government areas, enabling them to leverage terrain familiarity and community trust in countering banditry, kidnapping, and the illegal exploitation of forest resources.

The forest guard is an inter-agency national security initiative established under the leadership and strategic guidance of the NSA, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, and operationally coordinated by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Park Service.

“The programme draws doctrine, operational alignment, and strategic input from the Defence Headquarters, Nigerian Army, Navy, Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, ensuring unity of command, clarity of purpose, and operational effectiveness.

Governors and Deputy Governors from the seven participating states attended the ceremonies, including Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara and Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, with other states represented by their Deputy Governors,” the statement added.