The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has announced that newly recruited operatives of the Nigerian Forest Guard will be deployed without delay to insecurity-prone areas across the country.
Ribadu made the disclosure on Saturday during the graduation ceremony of no fewer than 7,000 forest guards who recently completed a three-month training programme.
According to him, the operatives will be deployed to “forested and ungoverned areas” where they will “gather actionable human intelligence” and “support ongoing security operations”.
He explained that the forest guards are drawn from the communities in which they will operate, a move authorities believe will strengthen trust, improve intelligence gathering, and boost operational efficiency.
Addressing public concerns, Ribadu said, “We are fully aware of the concerns of Nigerians regarding insecurity across the country.
“I wish to assure the public that the forest guards will be deployed immediately to identified hot spots to enhance existing security architecture, particularly in forested and ungoverned areas.
“As first responders, they are expected to dominate and ensure the security of the forest ecosystem, gather actionable human intelligence, support ongoing security operations, and enhance presence in hitherto ungoverned spaces.”
The graduation ceremonies for the forest guards took place in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi states.
Ribadu further stated that the federal government plans to sustain and expand the forest guard initiative across the country.