No fewer than 7,000 newly recruited forest guards have completed a three-month intensive training programme as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture and reclaim forest territories from bandits and other criminal elements.

The forest guards, drawn from seven frontline states, were trained under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative, launched by President Bola Tinubu in May 2025, according to a statement on Saturday.

The programme is coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser and represents a joint federal and state security intervention aimed at denying criminal groups safe havens within Nigeria’s forests.

The graduation ceremonies were held on Saturday across Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi.

Speaking at the event on Saturday, NSA Nuhu Ribadu described the initiative as a significant step toward restoring state authority and safeguarding vulnerable communities.

Mr Ribadu announced that deployment of the newly trained guards would commence immediately, with no gap between graduation and active assignment.

“These forest guards are not just uniformed personnel. They are first responders, community protectors, and a critical layer of Nigeria’s security architecture. They will hold ground, gather intelligence, and support security agencies in reclaiming territories previously overtaken by criminal elements,” stated Mr Ribadu.

Mr Ribadu disclosed that the programme recorded a 98.2 per cent completion rate, with 81 trainees dismissed for disciplinary reasons, while two died from pre-existing medical conditions.

According to him, the forest guards are indigenous to the communities where they will serve, a strategy designed to enhance trust, improve intelligence gathering, and boost operational effectiveness.