The Federal Government has announced the graduation of more than 7,000 newly-recruited forest guards drawn from seven frontline states after completing a three-month training programme under the ‘Presidential Forest Guards Initiative’.
The graduation ceremonies were held yesterday in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara and Kebbi states.
Recall that the initiative, launched in May 2025 by President Bola Tinubu, is aimed at improving internal security by denying terrorists, bandits and kidnappers access to forest areas. The President directed each state to recruit between 2,000 and 5,000 forest guards.
The graduation of the recruits shows the kick-off of the forest guards after it had been delayed for seven months.
According to a statement issued by the Office National Security Adviser yesterday, the training programme focused on physical conditioning, patrol operations and tactical movement, alongside modules on ethics, legality and human rights.
The statement said a total of 98.2 percent of trainees completed the programme, adding that 81 were disqualified on disciplinary grounds, while two died as a result of pre-existing medical conditions.
“The graduating Forest Guards are indigenous to their respective local government areas, enabling them to leverage terrain familiarity and community trust in countering banditry, kidnapping, and the illegal exploitation of forest resources”, the statement partly read.
National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribaɗu, said the guards would be deployed immediately. According to him, the new personnel would support other security agencies, gather intelligence and help protect communities vulnerable to attacks.
“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 further stated.
The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Department of State Services, the National Park Service and the Armed Forces, Police and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC).
