The Federal Government has graduated and is set to immediately deploy over 7,000 Forest Guards to seven frontline states, in a major push to deny terrorists and criminal groups sanctuary within the nation’s vast forest territories.

The guards, recruited from Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi States, completed a rigorous three-month training program under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative launched last May.

Speaking at graduation ceremonies across the states on Saturday, the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, announced that deployment would begin without delay.

“There will be no gap between graduation and deployment. Salaries and allowances will commence immediately, and every certified guard will proceed directly to assigned duty posts,” Ribadu stated.

He described the guards as “first responders, community protectors, and a critical layer of Nigeria’s security architecture” tasked with holding ground, gathering intelligence, and supporting security agencies in reclaiming areas used by criminals.

The training program focused on tactical fieldcraft, endurance exercises, obstacle crossing, and long-range patrol simulations. It also included instruction on human rights, International Humanitarian Law, and regulated arms handling protocols.

The initiative recorded a 98.2% completion rate, with 81 trainees disqualified for disciplinary reasons and two fatalities due to pre-existing medical conditions.

State governors, including AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara and Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, attended the ceremonies, underscoring the federal-state collaboration behind the program.

The Forest Guard initiative is coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Department of State Services, and the National Park Service, with support from the military and police.