Nigeria Tackles Kidnappers, Bandits with Forest Guards Initiative

The Federal Government has taken a bold step to secure forests and ungoverned spaces in Nigeria by expanding the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative to 10 states.

### Key Facts

  • 10 states: Kaduna, Edo, Kogi, Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi.
  • 9,000+ personnel: Trained and ready to be deployed to identified security flashpoints.
  • 2,000 forest guards: Deployed in Kaduna, Edo, and Kogi states.
  • Training duration: Not specified in the statement.
  • Training topics: Arms handling, navigation, field craft, patrol operations, intelligence gathering, and forest protection.

According to a statement from the Office of the National Security Adviser, the initiative was launched by President Bola Tinubu in May 2025 to strengthen the protection of Nigeria's forests against criminal activities.

The programme is coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser and implemented under the operational leadership of the Department of State Services, with support from the National Intelligence Agency, Defence Headquarters, the Nigeria Police Force, and the National Park Service.

Over 7,000 forest guards were trained and graduated from seven frontline states in December 2025, and now more than 9,000 personnel have been trained across 10 states.

The ONSA said many of the recruits were drawn from communities heavily affected by kidnapping, banditry, and other security threats because of their familiarity with forests, footpaths, rivers, remote settlements, and routes linking communities and states.

The government believes that the knowledge of the terrain will improve surveillance and intelligence gathering, and help security agencies identify routes and locations that may be difficult for personnel deployed from outside the affected communities to access.

The statement added that all recruits underwent screening, background checks, and security vetting before selection to confirm their identities, community records, and suitability for security duties.

The training received by personnel included arms handling, navigation, field craft, patrol operations, intelligence gathering, and forest protection.

### Deployment The forest guards will be deployed to forests, remote settlements, border communities, and other areas affected by kidnapping, banditry, and related crimes to support surveillance, early-warning efforts, and intelligence-led operations.

The governors of Kaduna, Edo, and Kogi states commended the Office of the National Security Adviser for coordinating the programme, saying it would complement existing security arrangements and extend government presence to areas with limited conventional security coverage.

The governors pledged to support the welfare, deployment, and operations of the forest guards in their respective states.

The ONSA said the broader objective of the initiative is to restore government presence in vulnerable areas, protect rural communities, and prevent criminal groups from using Nigeria's forests as safe havens.