Tinubu Launches Forest Guards as Nigeria Trains, Deploys 7,000 Personnel to Reclaim Forests from Criminals

Tinubu Launches Forest Guards to Reclaim Forests from Criminals.

President Bola Tinubu has launched a new security initiative with the training and deployment of more than 7,000 forest guards to reclaim Nigeria’s forests from criminal groups involved in kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism. The move forms part of a broader federal strategy to deny armed groups access to ungoverned forest spaces increasingly used as operational bases.

Ejes Gist News reports that the forest guards completed a three-month intensive training programme under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative, which was launched in May 2025. The programme is designed as a coordinated federal and state response to worsening insecurity in forested and hard-to-reach areas across the country.

7,000 Forest Guards Deployed Across Seven States

According to a statement issued by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, graduation ceremonies were held simultaneously on December 27 in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Sokoto, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi states. The newly trained guards are to be deployed immediately to operational locations within these states.

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The initiative specifically targets criminal networks that have turned forest corridors into hubs for mass abductions, arms trafficking, and attacks on rural communities.

Intensive Training and Operational Readiness

Authorities described the training programme as deliberately intensive and demanding. The curriculum combined physical conditioning, tactical fieldcraft, long-range patrol simulations, and environmental protection studies.

Trainees received practical instruction in:

• Ambush response and counter-ambush tactics
• Search-and-rescue operations
• Coordinated offensive actions to disrupt criminal camps
• Intelligence gathering and terrain surveillance

The programme also emphasized environmental protection, reflecting the dual objective of securing forests while preserving ecological assets.

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Emphasis on Human Rights and Legal Conduct

Beyond combat readiness, the forest guards were trained on professionalism and the lawful use of force. Instruction covered human rights standards, international humanitarian law, gender rights, and civilian protection.

The use of arms is regulated under a jointly agreed framework, ensuring that operations comply with national and international legal obligations.

Ribadu: Forest Guards Are Critical to National Security

National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu described the forest guards as a key addition to Nigeria’s security framework. He said the personnel would operate as first responders and community-based protectors within vulnerable areas.

“These forest guards are not just uniformed personnel. They are first responders, community protectors, and a critical layer of Nigeria’s security architecture,” Ribadu said. He added that the guards would hold ground, gather intelligence, and support existing security agencies in reclaiming territories overtaken by criminal elements.

Immediate Deployment and Salary Commencement

Ribadu confirmed that deployment would begin immediately after graduation, with no delay between training completion and posting to duty locations. He stated that salaries and allowances would commence at once for all certified guards.

Out of all trainees enrolled in the programme, 98.2 percent successfully completed the training. The statement disclosed that 81 trainees were disqualified on disciplinary grounds, while two deaths were recorded due to pre-existing medical conditions.

Locally Recruited for Terrain Advantage

The forest guards were recruited from their respective local government areas to leverage their familiarity with local terrain, forest routes, and community dynamics. Officials believe this local knowledge will enhance intelligence gathering and improve operational effectiveness.

The initiative is coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser, with operational support from the State Security Services and the National Park Service. Strategic input is also provided by the military, police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Addressing Persistent Insecurity in Forest Regions

Nigeria’s forests have played a central role in recent years as hideouts for armed groups responsible for school abductions, attacks on travellers, and assaults on farming communities. States in the north-west and north-central regions have been particularly affected.

By focusing on forest enclaves, the federal government says the new force will complement existing security operations and restore state presence in areas long dominated by criminal groups.

Ribadu said the initiative would be expanded nationwide as part of a sustained effort to improve public safety, adding that securing forests is essential to protecting lives and restoring confidence in affected communities.