The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has announced the graduation of more than 7,000 newly recruited Forest Guards drawn from seven frontline states across the country.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Rabiu Ibrahim, following the successful completion of a rigorous three-month training programme under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative, launched by Bola Tinubu, GCFR, in May 2025.
According to Ibrahim, the initiative represents a coordinated Federal–State security intervention designed to reclaim Nigeria’s forests from criminal exploitation and deny criminal elements access to ungoverned spaces.
Graduation ceremonies were held on 27 December 2025 in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara and Kebbi states, marking a major milestone in the effort to strengthen internal security.
The programme aims to reinforce Nigeria’s security framework by preventing terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups from using forested and hard-to-reach areas as safe havens.
Ibrahim explained that the training was deliberately intensive, structured and demanding, with the objective of transforming loyal and committed Nigerians into agile, disciplined and capable field operatives. The curriculum combined environmental conservation principles with advanced security skills to produce a professional and mission-ready force.
Trainees underwent extensive physical and mental conditioning, including endurance drills, obstacle-crossing exercises and long-range patrol simulations, all designed to prepare them for sustained forest operations.
They were also trained in tactical fieldcraft, covering movement techniques, enemy-contact drills, ambush response, rescue operations and coordinated offensive actions, equipping them to deny criminal elements any form of sanctuary within Nigeria’s forest spaces.
Equally central to the programme was a strong emphasis on ethics, legality and professionalism. According to the Minister’s aide, the curriculum placed significant focus on human rights, International Humanitarian Law, gender rights and the protection of civilians.
Arms handling and use-of-force procedures were strictly regulated in accordance with an Arms Management Manual jointly agreed upon by all participating agencies.
Speaking at the ceremonies, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, described the initiative as a decisive move toward restoring state authority and protecting 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. They will hold ground, gather intelligence, and support security agencies in reclaiming territories previously overtaken by criminal elements,” he said.
Ribadu confirmed that deployment would begin immediately, with no gap between graduation and operational duty.
“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.
The training programme recorded a 98.2 per cent completion rate. A total of 81 trainees were disqualified on disciplinary grounds, while two trainees died due to pre-existing medical conditions. All successful participants have been fully certified and cleared for operational service.
The graduating Forest Guards are indigenous to their respective local government areas, enabling them to leverage local terrain knowledge and community trust in tackling banditry, kidnapping and illegal exploitation of forest resources.
The Nigerian Forest Guard is an inter-agency national security initiative established under the leadership and strategic guidance of the National Security Adviser, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, and operationally coordinated by the Department of State Services and the National Park Service.
The programme draws operational doctrine and strategic alignment from the Defence Headquarters, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria 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 Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, while other states were represented by their Deputy Governors.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s resolve, the NSA concluded, “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.”
What you should know
The Presidential Forest Guards Initiative is part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to tackle insecurity by addressing the use of forests as hideouts for criminals.
By recruiting and deploying locally rooted personnel, the government aims to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve rapid response and restore state presence in previously ungoverned spaces.
The programme’s emphasis on ethics, human rights and inter-agency coordination reflects efforts to balance security operations with civilian protection, while its planned nationwide expansion signals a long-term commitment to addressing terrorism, banditry and environmental crime.
