FG expands forest guards initiative to 10 states to tackle kidnapping, banditry
The Nigerian federal government has expanded its forest guards initiative to 10 states, training over 9,000 personnel to combat kidnapping and banditry. These guards will assist security agencies by leveraging their local knowledge of difficult terrains.
Why it matters
This initiative represents a strategic shift toward community-based intelligence and security to address persistent violent crime in rural areas.
The federal government has expanded the presidential forest guards initiative to 10 states as part of efforts to tackle banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
The latest phase covers Kaduna, Edo and Kogi states, where more than 2,000 forest guards have completed training, bringing the total number of trained personnel under the programme to over 9,000.
In a statement issued on Friday, the office of the national security adviser (ONSA) said the forest guards would be deployed to support surveillance, early warning activities and intelligence-led operations alongside conventional security agencies.
The recruits are also expected to strengthen intelligence gathering by serving as a bridge between rural communities and security agencies.
According to ONSA, many of those enlisted were drawn from communities affected by kidnapping and banditry because of their knowledge of forests, rivers, footpaths, remote settlements and routes linking neighbouring communities and states.
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