Tinubu Deploys 7,000 In Presidential Forest Guards Initiative

In a bold move to break the core of terrorism and banditry in Nigeria’s hinterlands, the Federal Government has deployed more than 7,000 newly trained Forest Guards across seven frontline states.

The deployment follows their graduation on December 27, 2025, marking the first active phase of the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative, a coordinated multi-agency security strategy designed to eliminate criminal sanctuaries in the country’s so-called “ungoverned spaces.”

Graduation ceremonies were held simultaneously in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Sokoto, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi states, bringing to a close an intensive three-month training program.

The program was structured to transform locally recruited personnel into highly skilled field operatives capable of confronting armed groups deep within forested terrain.

Why the Forest Guards Were Launched

For years, Nigeria’s dense forest reserves, including notorious zones such as the Kamuku, Sambisa, and Kainji corridors, have been exploited by bandits and terrorist networks.

These groups converted the forests into operational headquarters, launching deadly attacks on nearby communities and retreating into areas that conventional security forces often find difficult to penetrate.

The urgency of the initiative is reflected in a grim record of violence and abductions. In states such as Kebbi and Niger, hundreds of schoolchildren were kidnapped from their classrooms and forced into remote forest hideouts.

In recent months, areas described as a “corridor of impunity” between Kwara and neighboring states witnessed worshippers abducted from churches and travelers disappearing along major highways.

Over time, these forests evolved into parallel power zones where criminals ran mass kidnapping rings, trafficked weapons, and carried out illegal mining, all shielded by difficult terrain and weak state presence.

President Tinubu’s decision to establish the Forest Guards is a direct response to this security breakdown, signaling a strategic shift from largely reactive, city-centered operations to proactive control and dominance of forest environments where criminal groups thrive.

Key Significance

The Forest Guards are far more than ordinary security personnel. Instead, they serve as an important support force within Nigeria’s security system, with their value built around three main strengths.

Knowing the land and local information is the foundation of the plan. The guards were recruited from their respective Local Government Areas, giving them deep familiarity with forest routes, hidden footpaths, caves, and water sources commonly used by bandits.

According to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, this ability to “read the forest” allows them to detect unusual movements and identify the covert arrival of criminal cells long before attacks are launched.

Holding Ground addresses one of the military’s longstanding challenges. Security operations have often followed a “clear and leave” pattern, where troops flush out bandits only for them to return once forces withdraw.

The Forest Guards are tasked with maintaining a continuous, armed presence within these areas, preventing criminals from regrouping and reclaiming territory.

Special training prepares the guards for real forest combat. Their training combined physical endurance with advanced tactical field skills, including ambush response, hostage rescue operations, and extended patrol simulations.

The curriculum was tailored specifically to the close-range, high-risk combat environment typical of bush warfare dominated by AK-47–armed groups.

How the Initiative Helps Nigerians

The deployment of the Forest Guards is expected to produce far-reaching benefits for national security and economic stability. By reclaiming forest territories, the government aims to revive rural livelihoods.

Farmers displaced by fear of kidnapping and violence can safely return to their farmlands, a development that could help reduce food inflation and stimulate local economies.

The initiative also strengthens trust between communities and the state. Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq described the move as a “game changer,” warning that terrorists now face a clear choice to abandon the state or face severe consequences.

As the guards begin sustained patrols, they offer long-awaited reassurance to rural communities that have endured years of insecurity and neglect.

With plans already in place to expand the program nationwide, the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative represents a long-term commitment to restoring territorial control and ensuring that no part of Nigeria’s landmass remains a safe haven for terror or organized crime.