The Federal Government has graduated over 7,000 newly recruited Forest Guards under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative, with immediate deployment approved across seven frontline states.
The guards completed an intensive three-month training programme coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser, following the launch of the initiative in May 2025. The programme targets the recovery of forested areas long used as hideouts by terrorists, bandits and kidnappers.
Graduation ceremonies were held on December 27, 2025, in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara and Kebbi States. The trainees were drawn from their respective local government areas to enhance community trust, terrain familiarity and intelligence gathering.
The training combined physical conditioning, tactical field operations and strict adherence to human rights, civilian protection and regulated use-of-force standards. Only certified participants were cleared for operational service, with deployment scheduled to commence immediately.
Speaking at the ceremonies, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said the Forest Guards would serve as first responders and intelligence assets in forest communities, adding that the initiative would be expanded nationwide as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen internal security.
