FG Graduates Over 7,000 Forest Guards, Commences Immediate Deployment














By Ibrahim Abubakar Yola.



The Federal Government has graduated over 7,000 newly recruited Forest Guards for immediate deployment across seven frontline states as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security and reclaim forest areas from criminal elements.

The guards, recruited under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in May 2025, completed an intensive three-month training programme coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Graduation ceremonies were held on December 27, 2025, in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi States. The initiative represents a coordinated Federal–State security intervention aimed at denying terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal groups safe haven within Nigeria’s forests and difficult terrains.

The training programme was described as rigorous and comprehensive, combining environmental conservation principles with advanced security and field operations. Trainees underwent physical and mental conditioning, endurance exercises, obstacle drills, and long-range patrol simulations to prepare them for sustained forest operations.

They were also trained in tactical fieldcraft, including movement techniques, response to enemy contact, ambush management, rescue operations, and coordinated offensive actions. Emphasis was equally placed on ethics, professionalism, and respect for human rights, with modules on International Humanitarian Law, gender rights, and the protection of civilians. Arms handling and use-of-force procedures were conducted in line with a jointly agreed Arms Management Manual.

Speaking at the ceremonies, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, described the programme as a critical step toward restoring state authority and protecting vulnerable communities.

“These Forest Guards are not just uniformed personnel. They are first responders, community protectors, and a vital layer of Nigeria’s security architecture. They will hold ground, gather intelligence, and support security agencies in reclaiming territories overtaken by criminal elements,” Ribadu said.

He confirmed that deployment would begin immediately, stressing that there would be no gap between graduation and operational duty. According to him, salaries and allowances for the guards would also commence without delay.

Out of the total trainees, the programme recorded a 98.2 per cent completion rate. Eighty-one trainees were disqualified on disciplinary grounds, while two trainees reportedly died due to pre-existing medical conditions. All successful participants have been fully certified and cleared for operational service.

The Forest Guards are indigenous to their respective local government areas, a strategy expected to enhance operational effectiveness through local knowledge and community trust in combating banditry, kidnapping, and illegal exploitation of forest resources.

The Nigerian Forest Guard is an inter-agency national security initiative established under the strategic guidance of the National Security Adviser, 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 also draws operational support and doctrine from the Defence Headquarters, the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Governors and deputy governors from the seven participating states attended the graduation ceremonies, including Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, while other states were represented by their deputy governors.

Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to national security, Ribadu stated that the initiative would be expanded nationwide as part of sustained efforts to secure Nigeria’s forests and protect citizens across the country.

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