The federal government says about 7,000 newly recruited forest guards have successfully completed a three-month specialised training exercise.
The programme, coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), was conceived as a collaborative federal and state security initiative aimed at reclaiming forests from criminal elements.
The graduation activities took place on December 27 across Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi states.
Speaking at the ceremony, Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser, said the initiative represents a decisive move towards restoring government authority and safeguarding vulnerable populations.
He announced that the operatives would be deployed immediately after graduation without any waiting period before active duty.
“These forest guards are not just uniformed personnel,” Ribadu said.
“They are first responders, community protectors, and a critical layer of Nigeria’s security architecture, and they will hold ground, gather intelligence, and support security agencies in reclaiming territories previously overtaken by criminal elements.
“There will be no delay between graduation and deployment. Salaries and allowances will commence immediately, and every certified guard will proceed directly to assigned duty posts.
“By protecting our forests, we are securing our territory, and by securing our territory, we are protecting our people.”
The NSA added that the federal government intends to maintain and broaden the programme across the country.
The ONSA also disclosed that the exercise recorded a 98.2 percent completion rate, with 81 trainees dismissed over disciplinary issues and two others confirmed dead due to pre-existing medical complications.