The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a significant step in its security strategy with the graduation and immediate deployment of more than 7,000 newly recruited Forest Guards. This move is a direct response to the persistent threat of banditry and criminal exploitation of the nation's vast forest reserves.
Intensive Training and Nationwide Deployment
The Forest Guards completed a rigorous three-month training programme under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative, which was launched by President Tinubu in May 2025. The graduation ceremonies, which marked their formal induction into the national security architecture, were held simultaneously on Saturday, December 27, 2025.
The newly deployed personnel are stationed across seven frontline states considered critical to the fight against insecurity. These states are Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi. Their primary mandate is to strengthen security, protect vulnerable communities, and deny criminal elements the use of forests as safe havens.
A New Layer in Nigeria's Security Architecture
Speaking at the graduation events, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, outlined the critical role of the Forest Guards. He described the initiative as a decisive measure to restore state authority in areas previously overtaken by lawlessness.
"These Forest Guards are not just uniformed personnel," Ribadu stated. "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 deployment was officially announced in a statement issued by Rabiu Ibrahim, the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
Link to Broader Security and Anti-Drug Strategy
The Forest Guards programme is intrinsically linked to the federal government's wider strategy to combat insecurity. Officials, including NSA Ribadu and the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd), have consistently linked criminal activities to drug trafficking and the use of ungoverned forest spaces.
Recall that President Tinubu had earlier directed the National Security Adviser to commence the training of these guards urgently. The President also emphasized the need to equip them with necessary weapons to effectively combat terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping.
This initial deployment of over 7,000 personnel is part of a larger national plan. The federal government aims to recruit between 2,000 to 5,000 Forest Guards per state, with a potential total of up to 180,000 guards nationwide. Their continuous presence is expected to monitor forest activities and curb the operations of bandits, kidnappers, and other criminals who have long used these terrains as bases.
The success of this initiative is now a focal point for security observers, as it represents a direct, community-embedded approach to solving one of Nigeria's most pressing security challenges.
