The Federal Government has launched a major security operation to reclaim Nigeria’s forests from bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal groups. Under the new Forest Guards Initiative, more than 130,000 armed personnel will be deployed nationwide to strengthen internal security and restore peace in rural communities.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, announced the initiative on Thursday during the opening session of the Federal and States Security Administrators’ Meeting (FSSAM), held at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Abuja.
Ribadu said the initiative, approved by President Bola Tinubu, represents a turning point in the country’s fight against insecurity.
He explained that forests, long used as hideouts by criminals, would now be placed under tight security control.
“We are taking the fight to where the criminals hide.
The Forest Guards Initiative is a bold step to secure our forests, restore peace to rural communities, and deny bandits and kidnappers freedom of action,” Ribadu stated.
According to him, the deployment will begin with pilot operations in Adamawa, Borno, Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, Sokoto, and Yobe States before extending across Nigeria’s 1,129 forest and game reserves.
Ribadu emphasized that the plan aligns with President Tinubu’s broader vision of building a secure environment for peace, development, and prosperity.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Muhammed Danjuma, Permanent Secretary of the Special Services Office, described the project as a “security game-changer”.
He noted that the program was jointly coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Federal Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with state governments.
Danjuma added that the initiative aims not only to combat insecurity but also to protect Nigeria’s natural resources and vulnerable populations living near forest regions.
He, however, cautioned that the program’s success would depend on strong political will, adequate funding, and cooperation between federal and state authorities.
The three-day meeting brought together security administrators from all 36 states and the FCT to assess the country’s internal security challenges and recommend practical measures for improvement.
The Forest Guards Initiative is expected to serve as a critical component of Nigeria’s evolving counter-insurgency and anti-kidnapping framework, focusing on preventive security rather than reactive force.