President Bola Tinubu's administration has ordered the immediate deployment of over 7,000 newly graduated forest guards to secure Nigeria's forests from bandits and criminals, following December 27 ceremonies in seven frontline states.
Building on the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative launched in May 2025, the Federal Government graduated the guards after a rigorous three-month training program focused on security tactics, environmental conservation, and community engagement. Coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the effort involves inter-agency collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, DSS, National Park Service, armed forces, police, and NSCDC. NSA Nuhu Ribadu hailed the guards as 'first responders and community protectors,' confirming no delay in deployment or payments. Indigenous to their deployment areas, the guards leverage local knowledge for intelligence and trust-building. With a 98.2% completion rate, this step strengthens Nigeria's security architecture against threats in hard-to-reach forested hideouts.
