The government is sending 7,000 new forest guards to fight bandits. National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu announced the immediate deployment of these guards to seven pilot states: Adamawa, Borno, Kwara, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, and Yobe. He stated the force will operate in troubled communities and ungoverned forest areas to gather intelligence and support broader security operations. The guards just finished a tough three-month training program involving endurance drills and patrol simulations.
Ribadu explained this is the pilot phase of the Presidential Forest Guards initiative, launched by President Bola Tinubu. Instructors from the Army, Navy, DSS, Police, Civil Defence, National Park Service, and National Intelligence Agency ran the training. Their main job is to confront bandits, insurgents, and terrorists hiding in remote woods. Ribadu confirmed the process has already started to train more guards in other states for a wider national rollout. Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri told the graduates to treat their assignment as a service role and interact with civilians respectfully.
Ribadu explained this is the pilot phase of the Presidential Forest Guards initiative, launched by President Bola Tinubu. Instructors from the Army, Navy, DSS, Police, Civil Defence, National Park Service, and National Intelligence Agency ran the training. Their main job is to confront bandits, insurgents, and terrorists hiding in remote woods. Ribadu confirmed the process has already started to train more guards in other states for a wider national rollout. Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri told the graduates to treat their assignment as a service role and interact with civilians respectfully.
