The Federal Government has graduated over 7,000 newly recruited Forest Guards drawn from seven frontline states, with immediate deployment ordered to strengthen internal security and reclaim Nigeria’s forests from criminal elements. The initiative, coordinated through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), is aimed at denying terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups access to forested and hard-to-reach areas used as hideouts. Addressing participants at the ceremonies, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, described the initiative as a major step toward restoring state authority and protecting vulnerable communities. He said, “These Forest Guards are not just uniformed personnel. The Forest Guards are indigenous to their respective local government areas, a factor the government said would enhance terrain familiarity, intelligence gathering and community trust in tackling banditry, kidnapping and illegal exploitation of forest resources.

Source: The Guardian December 27, 2025 22:52 UTC