In a major boost to Nigeria's internal security framework, the Federal Government has officially graduated and ordered the immediate deployment of more than 7,000 Forest Guards. This new force is tasked with the critical mission of reclaiming the nation's vast forested areas from criminal elements who use them as hideouts.
Intensive Training and Swift Deployment
The graduation ceremonies took place on December 27, 2025, simultaneously across seven frontline states: Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi. The guards successfully completed a rigorous three-month training program under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative, which was launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May 2025.
Addressing the new personnel, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, emphasized that there would be no administrative delays. "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," Ribadu stated. He confirmed that deployment operations began right after the ceremonies.
A Rigorous Program with High Standards
The training, coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), was designed to be exceptionally demanding. It blended principles of environmental conservation with advanced security tactics to create a disciplined, mission-ready force. Trainees were put through:
- Physical and mental conditioning drills.
- Long-range patrol simulations in forest terrain.
- Tactical fieldcraft and ambush response exercises.
- Specialized training in rescue operations.
The program maintained high disciplinary standards, resulting in an impressive 98.2% completion rate. Out of the initial recruits, 81 trainees were disqualified on disciplinary grounds, while two others died
Strategic Impact and Community Focus
Ribadu described the Forest Guards as much more than uniformed personnel. "These Forest Guards are not just uniformed personnel. They are first responders, community protectors, and a critical layer of Nigeria’s security architecture," he said. The initiative is a strategic move to deny terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal groups access to remote forested areas.
A key strategic advantage is that the guards are indigenous to their respective local government areas. This local knowledge is expected to greatly enhance terrain familiarity, improve intelligence gathering, and build trust within communities to tackle banditry, kidnapping, and the illegal exploitation of forest resources.
The program is an inter-agency effort led by ONSA in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, and is operationally coordinated by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Park Service. It also receives strategic input from the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Governors from the participating states, including Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, attended the graduation events, underscoring the initiative's significance. Reaffirming the government's commitment, NSA Ribadu announced plans to expand the program nationwide, stating, "By protecting our forests, we are securing our territory. And by securing our territory, we are protecting our people."
