Nigeria has trained and deployed over 7,000 forest guards to reclaim forests from criminal groups involved in kidnappings, banditry, and terrorism.
The initiative, launched by President Bola Tinubu in May 2025, targets seven northern states amid rising insecurity in forested areas.
The guards finished a rigorous three-month program on December 27, 2025, with graduation ceremonies in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Sokoto, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi.
Training covered physical conditioning, tactical skills like ambush response and patrols, plus human rights and environmental protection. Out of enrollees, 98.2% passed, with 81 disqualified and two deaths from medical issues.
The National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu announced instant deployment, with salaries starting right away and guards posted to local areas for terrain knowledge.
Recruits will act as first responders, gathering intelligence and supporting agencies like the military and police to disrupt criminal networks.
The effort coordinates federal and state resources through the NSA’s office. With forests becoming bases for abductions of schoolchildren, farmers, and travelers in these regions, officials emphasized the guards as a key security layer to restore state control and protect communities. Expansion nationwide is planned to enhance public safety.