Nigeria deploys 7,000 new Forest Guards in major push to secure territories

The Federal Government has graduated over 7,000 newly recruited Forest Guards following an intensive three-month training program, marking a major step in its strategy to deny criminals sanctuary in the nation’s forests.

The guards, drawn from seven frontline states—Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi—completed their training on December 27, 2025, under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative launched in May 2025.

The program is designed to reclaim forested areas from terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers through a coordinated federal-state security approach.

National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, speaking at the graduation ceremonies, emphasized that the guards will serve as first responders and community protectors.

“They will hold ground, gather intelligence, and support security agencies in reclaiming territories previously overtaken by criminal elements,” he stated.

The training blended tactical fieldcraft—including ambush response, rescue operations, and patrol simulations—with strong grounding in human rights, International Humanitarian Law, and regulated use-of-force protocols.

The program recorded a 98.2% completion rate, with 81 trainees disqualified for disciplinary reasons and two deceased due to pre-existing conditions.

Ribadu confirmed immediate deployment with no delay in the start of salaries and allowances.

The guards, who are indigenous to their local government areas, are expected to leverage local knowledge and community trust in their operations.

The Forest Guard initiative is an inter-agency effort coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Department of State Services, and the National Park Service, with doctrinal input from the military and police.

State governors and deputies attended the ceremonies, underscoring the joint commitment to the program.

Ribadu reaffirmed the government’s resolve, stating, “By protecting our forests, we are securing our territory. And by securing our territory, we are protecting our people.”

The initiative is planned to expand nationwide as part of ongoing efforts to enhance security.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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