Insecurity: Nigeria launches Forest Guards, set to deploy 7,000 Officers immediately

*Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser, describes Forest Guards as ‘first responders, community protectors, and a critical layer of Nigeria’s security architecture’, established to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture by denying terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal groups sanctuary within forested and hard-to-reach terrains

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Nigerian Government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has announced the graduation of over 7,000 newly-recruited Forest Guards.

The Forest Guard Officers are drawn from seven frontline states, following the successful completion of an intensive three-month training programme under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative.

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It is recalled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, launched the security initiative May 2025.

ConsumerConnect reports the security programme represents a coordinated Federal–State security intervention, which is aimed at reclaiming the West African country’s huge forests from criminal exploitation by bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, and terrorists.

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The graduation ceremonies held December 27, 2025, simultaneously across Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi states.

Core objective of Forest Guard security initiative, by NSA Ribadu

As regards the overarching objective of the security initiative, the government said it was designed to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture by denying terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal groups sanctuary within forested and hard-to-reach terrains.

Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant to Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Honourable Minister for Information on Media, at the weekend also noted the Minister explained the training programme was deliberately intensive, structured, and demanding, designed to transform loyal and committed Nigerians into agile, disciplined, and capable field operatives.

The Minister stated that the curriculum integrated environmental conservation principles with advanced security competencies, ensuring a balanced, professional, and mission-ready force.

He also explained that the trainees underwent extensive physical and mental conditioning, including endurance exercises, obstacle-crossing drills, and long-range patrol simulations to prepare them for sustained forest operations in the country.

Besides the new Forest Guards were trained in tactical fieldcraft, including 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, stated Idris.

According to him, the curriculum placed significant focus on human rights, International Humanitarian Law (IHL), gender rights, and the protection of civilians.

Arms handling and use-of-force protocols were strictly regulated in line with an Arms Management Manual jointly agreed upon by all participating agencies.

Speaking at the graduation ceremonies, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser (NSA), was quoted to have described the initiative as a decisive step towards restoring state authority and protecting vulnerable communities.

Ribadu stated: “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.”

The Nigerian NSA also confirmed that deployment of the trained Officers would commence immediately, with no gap between graduation and operational duty.

Ribadu further said: “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.”

Insight into training programme for graduating Forest Guards

The Federal Government disclosed the training programme for the Forest Guards recorded a 98.2 percent completion rate.

It noted that 81 trainees were disqualified on disciplinary grounds, while two trainees passed away due to pre-existing medical conditions.

However, all successful participants have been fully certified, and cleared for operational service in Nigeria, the statement noted.

In regard to uniqueness of the initiative, the government emphasised 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.

It stated that 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 (DSS) and the National Park Service.

The programme draws doctrine, operational alignment, and strategic input from the Defence Headquarters, Nigerian Army (NA), Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)—ensuring unity of command, clarity of purpose, and operational effectiveness.

The statement as well noted that Governors and Deputy Governors from the seven participating states attended the ceremonies.

These include Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, with other states represented by their Deputy Governors.

Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment, NSA Ribadu asserted: “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.”

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