By MOHAMMED DANBABA
The Federal Government has deployed more than 7,000 newly trained Forest Guards across seven frontline states as part of an aggressive strategy to tackle banditry, kidnapping, and criminal exploitation of Nigeria’s vast forest reserves.
The deployment, coordinated through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), follows the successful completion of a three-month intensive training programme under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative, launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May 2025.
Graduates Drawn From Seven High-Risk States
The graduation ceremonies were held on Saturday, December 27, 2025, simultaneously across Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi States—areas that have remained flashpoints for insurgency, banditry, and cross-border criminal activities.
In a statement issued by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the Federal Government said the initiative is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture by denying criminal groups safe havens within forests and hard-to-reach terrains.
According to the statement shared via the Ministry’s official X handle, the forest guards will play a strategic role in securing territories that have long been exploited by terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and illegal loggers.
Ribadu: Forest Guards Are First Responders, Not Just Uniformed Personnel
Speaking at the graduation ceremonies, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, described the initiative as a decisive intervention aimed at restoring state authority in ungoverned spaces.
“These Forest Guards are not just uniformed personnel,” Ribadu said. “They are 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.”
He stressed that the programme reflects the Federal Government’s resolve to confront insecurity at its roots by cutting off criminal access to forest corridors that have enabled violent activities for years.
Rigorous Training With Security and Conservation Focus
The three-month training programme blended environmental conservation principles with advanced security competencies, reflecting the dual role forest guards are expected to play.
Trainees underwent intense physical and mental conditioning, including endurance drills, obstacle-crossing exercises, long-range patrol simulations, and tactical fieldcraft designed for forest operations.
They also received specialised training in ambush response, rescue missions, intelligence gathering, and coordinated offensive actions to flush out criminal groups hiding in forested areas.
Security officials said the training was deliberately structured to prepare the guards for real-life operational challenges in difficult terrains where conventional security forces often face limitations.
Immediate Deployment, Salaries to Begin at Once
Ribadu confirmed that deployment would commence immediately, with no gap between graduation and operational posting.
“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 stated.
According to official figures, 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.
Multi-Agency Security Collaboration
The Nigerian Forest Guard programme is an inter-agency initiative coordinated by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Park Service, with operational input from the Defence Headquarters, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Security experts say this layered approach is critical to ensuring intelligence sharing, rapid response, and operational effectiveness, particularly in forest zones that span multiple state boundaries.
The government expects certified guards to leverage their familiarity with local terrain and community trust to disrupt bandit networks, combat kidnapping, and curb illegal forest exploitation.
Nationwide Expansion on the Horizon
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment, Ribadu disclosed that the initiative would not stop with the seven pilot states.
“By protecting our forests, we are securing our territory. And by securing our territory, we are protecting our people,” he said. “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.”
Governors and Deputy Governors from the participating states attended the ceremonies, signalling strong subnational backing for the programme.
A Strategic Shift in Nigeria’s Security Fight
Analysts view the deployment of forest guards as a strategic shift in Nigeria’s security response—one that prioritises territorial control, local intelligence, and sustained presence rather than reactive military operations alone.
With forests increasingly serving as staging grounds for criminal activities, the success of the initiative could significantly weaken bandit networks and restore confidence in affected communities.
As the guards move into their duty posts, attention will now turn to how effectively the programme translates into reduced violence, safer rural communities, and reclaimed forest territories across Nigeria.
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