Abuja, Nigeria – National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has unveiled a new, more intensive training program for a specialized unit of the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), aimed at uprooting criminal gangs and insurgent groups that take refuge in the country’s forest reserves.
Speaking at a high-level security meeting in Abuja, Ribadu said the initiative marks a decisive shift in Nigeria’s internal security strategy — bringing the fight directly into forested zones long used as hideouts.
> “We are taking the fight to where the criminals hide,” Ribadu declared, underscoring that the forest guards will be a “vanguard” in flushing out terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other dangerous elements embedded in Nigeria’s ungoverned forest areas.
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Key Elements of the Initiative
1. Mass Deployment
The NSA announced that over 130,000 armed forest guards will be deployed across Nigeria’s 1,129 forest and game reserves.
Ribadu said the first phase of deployment will focus on “frontline” states including Adamawa, Borno, Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, Sokoto, and Yobe.
2. Intensive Training Regime
The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) is leading the training, in coordination with the Ministry of Environment.
Recruits are being trained in advanced skills: intelligence gathering, surveillance, rapid response, and counter-insurgency tactics, including the use of drones and environmental forensics.
The training camps are spread across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
3. Collaboration with Other Agencies
The NFSS is already collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force, NDLEA, and NSCDC to strengthen intelligence-sharing and operations in forested areas.
In May 2025, a training program for NFSS’s Intelligence, Surveillance, and Provost departments was held, with input from police, military, and other security bodies.
4. Recruitment & Capacity Building
According to NFSS leadership, over 24,000 personnel have already been recruited and trained to safeguard Nigeria’s forests.
Recruits are drawn from across the country, and there is a strong emphasis on merit-based selection and professionalism.
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Why This Matters
Nigeria’s forests have long been exploited as safe havens by criminals, insurgents, and kidnappers.
By deploying a large, well-equipped and well-trained forest security corps, the government aims to deny these groups sanctuary and reassert state control over remote forest zones.
The move aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader “Renewed Hope” security agenda, which prioritizes both territorial control and community safety.
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Challenges & Risks Ahead
Security experts have warned that the success of the forest guards initiative will depend on adequate funding, political will, and sustained cooperation between federal and state governments.
Some analysts have expressed concern over the risks of deploying an armed force into dense forests without proper intelligence infrastructure, stressing that poor planning could lead to the guards being overwhelmed or misused.
Clarion NewsChannel will continue to follow this story, providing updates on recruitment, deployment, and the early impact of the forest guards initiative.
NSA Ribadu Announces Specialized Training for Elite Forest Security Unit to Tackle Criminal Networks
