Federal Government Deploys 7,000 New Forest Guards to Bolster Security

In a major step to combat insecurity, the Federal Government has deployed more than 7,000 newly graduated Forest Guards to seven frontline states. The personnel completed an intensive three-month training program under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative.

The graduation ceremonies, held simultaneously on December 27, 2025, took place in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi states. This marks the operational kickoff of the initiative, which had faced a seven-month delay since its launch by President Bola Tinubu in May 2025.

The core objective of the program is to enhance internal security by denying terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers the use of the nation’s vast forest areas as sanctuaries. President Tinubu had directed each participating state to recruit between 2,000 and 5,000 individuals for the force.

According to a statement released on Saturday by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the training curriculum included physical conditioning, patrol operations, tactical movement, and comprehensive modules on ethics, legality, and human rights. Arms handling was conducted in strict adherence to an agreed Arms Management Manual.

The program reported a 98.2% completion rate. Of the trainees, 81 were disqualified on disciplinary grounds, and two fatalities occurred due to pre-existing medical conditions.

The statement emphasized that all successful graduates are indigenous to their local government areas, a strategic choice to leverage their terrain familiarity and community trust for intelligence-gathering and protection duties.

National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, announced the guards’ immediate deployment. “There will be no delay between graduation and deployment. Salaries and allowances will commence immediately,” Ribadu stated.

He described the guards as a critical new layer in Nigeria’s security architecture, serving as first responders and community protectors. “They will hold ground, gather intelligence, and support security agencies in reclaiming territories previously overtaken by criminal elements,” Ribadu added.

The initiative is a collaborative effort involving the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Park Service, and the armed forces, police, and civil defence corps.