The Nigerian Government has launched a major security operation under the Forest Guards Initiative, deploying thousands of personnel across the country’s forests to flush out bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal groups.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, announced the rollout on Thursday in Abuja at the opening of the Federal and States Security Administrators’ Meeting (FSSAM), held at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
Ribadu said the initiative, approved by President Bola Tinubu, marks a decisive shift in Nigeria’s internal security strategy, targeting forest hideouts that have long served as bases for violent crime.
“We are taking the fight to where the criminals hide,” Ribadu said. “The Forest Guards Initiative is a bold step to secure our forests, restore peace to rural communities, and deny bandits and kidnappers the freedom to operate.”
He revealed that more than 130,000 armed forest guards will be deployed to protect over 1,100 forest and game reserves, with pilot operations already underway in Adamawa, Borno, Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, Sokoto, and Yobe States.
The NSA added that the initiative aligns with the administration’s broader goal of strengthening national security, promoting rural stability, and protecting the environment.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Special Services Office, Muhammed Danjuma, said the initiative is jointly coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Federal Ministry of Environment, in partnership with state governments.
He described the project as a “security game-changer,” designed to reclaim forest spaces from criminal gangs, safeguard natural assets, and protect vulnerable communities.
According to him, the forest guards will receive specialized training in intelligence gathering, surveillance, and counter-insurgency to complement the work of the military and other security agencies.
Danjuma noted that the initiative signals a new phase in Nigeria’s security architecture – one focused on reclaiming territories, restoring confidence, and ensuring peace across the country’s rural heartlands.
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