The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Niger State Government, has mobilized 979 National Forest Guards to boost security in the state and parts of Northern Nigeria. The guards were trained and drawn from nine insecurity-prone local government areas in Niger State ¹.
The initiative is part of the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May 2025, aiming to strengthen Nigeria's internal security architecture. The guards will serve as first responders, community protectors, and a critical layer of Nigeria's security, gathering intelligence and supporting security agencies to reclaim territories overtaken by criminal elements ² ³.
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, emphasized that the Forest Guards will be co-opted into Nigeria's first responders, describing them as gallant and courageous in confronting unscrupulous elements. The training program recorded a 98.2% completion rate, with 81 trainees disqualified and two passing away due to pre-existing medical conditions ² ³.
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