FG Graduates 7,000 Forest Guards, Begins Immediate Deployment to Tackle Insecurity in Forested Areas
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the graduation and immediate deployment of more than 7,000 Forest Guards as part of a renewed effort to combat insecurity, banditry, kidnapping, and terrorist activities across forested and hard-to-reach areas of the country. The development was disclosed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under the leadership of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The Forest Guards were trained under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative, a national security programme launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May 2025. The initiative is designed as a coordinated Federal–State intervention to deny criminal elements the ability to use Nigeria’s vast forest reserves as hideouts, operational bases, and transit routes.
Graduation ceremonies took place on December 27, 2025, across seven states identified as security flashpoints—Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi. According to the Federal Government, these states were selected for the first phase of the programme due to persistent security challenges linked to forest-based criminal activities.
The newly graduated Forest Guards underwent an intensive three-month training programme described by authorities as physically demanding and operationally rigorous. The training was designed to transform recruits into disciplined, agile, and mission-ready personnel capable of sustained operations in difficult terrain. The curriculum combined environmental protection principles with advanced security and counterinsurgency skills.
Training components included endurance drills, obstacle navigation, long-range patrol simulations, and survival exercises aimed at preparing the guards for prolonged forest deployments. In addition, trainees received instruction in tactical fieldcraft such as coordinated movement, response to enemy contact, ambush survival, rescue missions, and intelligence-led operations.
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A significant aspect of the programme was its emphasis on professionalism and accountability. The Forest Guards were trained on human rights, gender sensitivity, International Humanitarian Law, and civilian protection. Arms handling and rules of engagement were governed by a strict Arms Management Manual agreed upon by all participating security agencies, with officials stressing that the guards are expected to operate within clearly defined legal boundaries.
Speaking during the graduation ceremonies, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu described the Forest Guards as a critical addition to Nigeria’s internal security framework. He said the initiative is aimed at restoring state authority in areas that have long been exploited by criminal groups.
“These Forest Guards are not just uniformed personnel. They are first responders, community protectors, and an essential layer of Nigeria’s security architecture,” Ribadu said. “They will hold ground, gather intelligence, and support existing security agencies in reclaiming territories previously overtaken by criminal elements.”
Ribadu confirmed that there would be no delay between graduation and operational deployment. According to him, salaries and allowances for the guards will commence immediately, and all certified personnel have been posted directly to their assigned duty locations.
Out of the total number recruited, the programme recorded a 98.2 percent completion rate. Eighty-one trainees were disqualified on disciplinary grounds, while two participants reportedly died due to pre-existing medical conditions. All remaining graduates have been fully certified and cleared for operational service.
The Forest Guards are drawn from their respective local government areas, a move authorities say is intended to enhance intelligence gathering through local knowledge and community trust. The initiative is structured as an inter-agency effort involving the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the National Park Service, with operational support from the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Governors and deputy governors from participating states attended the ceremonies, including Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s stance, Ribadu said the programme would be expanded nationwide. “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 in this effort,” he stated.
While the initiative has been welcomed in some quarters, it has also sparked debate among Nigerians, with critics raising concerns about centralised control, community trust, and the broader need for state policing reforms. Authorities, however, insist the Forest Guards initiative is a strategic step toward strengthening national security and restoring safety to vulnerable communities.