About 7,000 newly recruited forest guards, drawn from seven frontline states, have graduated after completing a three-month intensive training programme.

The new forest guards were trained under the presidential forest guards initiative launched by President Bola Tinubu in May.

The programme, coordinated by the office of the national security adviser (ONSA), is a joint federal and state security effort to reclaim forest territories from criminal groups.

The Nigerian Forest Guard is an inter-agency initiative led by the NSA, supported by the federal ministry of environment, and coordinated operationally by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Park Service.

The programme also draws strategic and operational input from the defence headquarters (DHQ), Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The graduation ceremonies were held on December 27 across Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi states.

Speaking at the ceremony, Nuhu Ribadu, the NSA, described the initiative as a major step towards restoring state control and safeguarding vulnerable communities.

Ribadu said the deployment of the forest guards would begin immediately, with no break between graduation and active assignment.

“These forest guards are not just uniformed personnel,” he 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 further said the federal government would sustain and expand the initiative nationwide.

He noted that the programme recorded a 98.2 percent completion rate, with 81 trainees dismissed for disciplinary reasons while two died from pre-existing medical conditions.

The guards are indigenous to the areas where they will serve, which authorities say will enhance trust, intelligence flow, and operational effectiveness.

According to a statement issued by the ONSA, the forest guards were recruited from their LGAs to enable them to rely on local knowledge and community trust in tackling banditry, kidnapping, and the illegal exploitation of forest resources.