States Rush To Deploy Forest Guards As Insecurity Deepens – 5 Key Realities You Must Know

The news says: The deployment of forest guards has gathered momentum, with Kebbi, Gombe, Kwara, Kaduna, Edo, Imo, Bayelsa, Anambra and several other states scaling up operations under the Federal Government-backed initiative. This follows President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards after recent attacks and abductions in Oyo and Kwara States.

Who are the people and states involved in this deployment?

The Federal Government (under President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu). States that have deployed: Kebbi (819 guards), Gombe (700 in training), Kwara (3,300 total – 700 initial, 2,600 additional), Kaduna (1,000 in training), Kano (150 guards), Katsina (70 guards), Ekiti, Edo, Imo, Bayelsa, Anambra. States yet to deploy: Zamfara, Rivers, Abia, Osun, Lagos, Benue. States opting out: Ondo (using Amotekun instead). Other stakeholders: traditional rulers, local communities, security agencies, Amotekun Corps.

Where are these forest guards being deployed?

Kebbi: Kalgo LGA. Gombe: training at Mobile Police Training School in Osun State. Kwara: Kwara North and Kwara South senatorial districts. Kaduna: Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Kagarko, Kachia, Chikun, Kajuru, Igabi. Kano: six zones – Dambatta, Bichi, Gwarzo, Tudun Wada, Wudil, Kano. Ekiti: all local governments. Imo: Owerri West LGA. Bayelsa: state-wide with community rangers. Anambra: integrated into Homeland Security Law 2025.

What are forest guards expected to do?

Primary roles: protect forest resources, prevent illegal logging, combat poaching, support conservation efforts, monitor forest corridors, gather intelligence, support security agencies. They are NOT frontline combat troops. The Special Adviser to Sokoto Governor warned: “Forest guards are primarily trained to protect forest resources… they are not structured or equipped to undertake complex combat operations.”

When did this deployment start?

The initiative gained momentum after President Tinubu approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards following recent attacks in Oyo and Kwara. Kebbi trained 819 over nine weeks. Kaduna started a six-week training programme. The news was published on June 8, 2026.

Why is this deployment happening now?

Because insecurity has deepened. Bandits use forests as hideouts. They launch attacks from forests. They kidnap victims into forests. The government realised that without securing forests, towns cannot be safe. Forest guards are designed to deny criminals access to these spaces – to make forests uninhabitable for terrorists and bandits.

How many forest guards have been deployed so far?

Kebbi: 819. Kwara: 3,300. Kaduna: 1,000 in training. Gombe: 700 in training. Kano: 150. Katsina: 70. Ekiti: undisclosed number. Edo: training started June 5. Imo: 400+ forest guards and vigilante operatives. Bayelsa: 46 community rangers plus state Forest Security Service. Total deployed or in training exceeds 6,500 – possibly more.

5 key realities you must know about the forest guards deployment.

1. The numbers vary wildly – Kwara has 3,300, Katsina has 70. Kwara is deploying 3,300 forest guards. Katsina – a state far more affected by banditry – is deploying only 70. That discrepancy is striking. Either Katsina is under-deploying, or Kwara is over-deploying. The federal government should ensure that states with the worst insecurity receive adequate numbers. Bandits do not respect state boundaries.

2. Forest guards are NOT soldiers – they are not trained for combat. The Sokoto government’s security adviser made this clear: forest guards protect resources, not engage in frontline combat. High-risk operations remain the responsibility of the military and police. If states expect forest guards to fight bandits, they will be disappointed – and forest guards will be killed. Clear roles are essential.

3. Some states are using existing structures – Ondo refuses forest guards, relying on Amotekun. Ondo State said: “We already have our own Amotekun Corps, which is doing well. We don’t need FG’s forest guards.” That is a political decision. But Amotekun and forest guards could complement each other. Refusing federal support may leave gaps. Ondo should reconsider – not as a replacement, but as reinforcement.

4. Zamfara – one of the most insecure states – has not recruited because it is waiting for federal approval. Zamfara has suffered immensely from banditry. Yet the state has not recruited forest guards. The government says it is “waiting for further directives.” That is bureaucratic paralysis. The federal government should expedite approval for Zamfara and other high-risk states. Every day of waiting is a day bandits remain unchallenged in forests.

5. Bayelsa uses forest guards for environmental protection AND security – a model worth copying. Bayelsa operates both a state-backed Forest Security Service and 46 Community Forest Rangers trained under a biodiversity conservation partnership. They enforce logging bans and support conservation. That is a dual-purpose model: protect forests, and protect people. Other states should copy this approach. Forest guards are not just anti-bandit. They are anti-deforestation.

How this affects Nigerians.

i. It could reduce bandit attacks if guards are properly deployed and supported. Bandits hide in forests. If forests are monitored, patrolled, and denied to criminals, attacks will decrease. But this requires numbers, training, equipment, and intelligence. A forest guard with a torch and a whistle is not a deterrent. A forest guard with communication gear, mobility, and backup from security forces is.

ii. It may create confusion if roles overlap with existing security structures. Nigeria already has police, military, civil defence, and state security outfits like Amotekun. Adding forest guards creates another layer. Without clear coordination, there will be duplication, rivalry, and gaps. The federal government must publish a clear operational framework defining who does what.

iii. It puts pressure on the federal government to fund and equip the guards. States are recruiting. But recruitment is not enough. Forest guards need uniforms, communication equipment, vehicles (or motorcycles), and stipends. If the federal government does not provide resources, the guards will be ineffective – and will eventually abandon their posts. Budget allocation must follow recruitment.

iv. It raises expectations that may not be met immediately. The public hears “forest guards deployed” and expects banditry to end. That is unrealistic. Forest guards are a long-term solution. They will not stop the next attack next week. Managing public expectations is essential. The government should communicate what forest guards can and cannot do.

v. It highlights the unevenness of Nigeria’s security response. Kwara has 3,300 forest guards. Katsina has 70. Zamfara has none. That is not a strategy. That is chaos. The federal government should coordinate deployment based on threat levels, not state government enthusiasm. A state with high banditry should get more resources – not fewer.

Advice from this analyst.

1. To the Federal Government and National Security Adviser: publish a national forest guard framework. Define roles, equipment standards, training curriculum, and command structure. Also, prioritise high-risk states like Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna. Give them numbers, resources, and fast-track approvals.

2. To state governors: do not recruit forest guards as a political statement. Recruit them as a security tool. Ensure they are trained, equipped, and integrated with existing security agencies. Also, pay them. Unpaid guards will become corrupt or abandon their posts.

3. To forest guards themselves: know your role. You are not soldiers. Do not engage in direct combat unless absolutely necessary. Your value is in intelligence gathering, surveillance, and early warning. Stay safe. Report what you see. Let the military handle the fighting.

4. To traditional rulers and local communities: support forest guards with intelligence. They need local knowledge. Who is entering the forest? What are they carrying? Where are strange sounds coming from? Your information is their weapon. Share it.

5. To the Nigerian public: be patient. Forest guards are not a magic wand. Insecurity took years to develop. It will take time to reverse. Support the initiative while holding the government accountable for other security measures. Do not let forest guards become a distraction from the need for police and military reform.

Rhetorical question for you.

If Kwara State can deploy 3,300 forest guards and Kaduna State is training 1,000, but Zamfara – one of the most banditry-ravaged states – has deployed none because it is waiting for federal approval, what does that say about the coordination of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy?

The answer is that coordination is weak. States are acting independently. The federal government is not prioritising based on threat levels. Bandits do not wait for approval. They do not respect federal bureaucracy. While Zamfara waits, bandits occupy forests. That is not a strategy. That is negligence. The federal government must treat forest guard deployment as a national security priority – not a state-by-state optional programme.

Akahi News reports that over 6,500 forest guards are being trained or deployed across Nigeria. Kebbi, Kwara, Kaduna, and others are moving. Zamfara is waiting. Ondo is refusing. Katsina is under-deploying. The idea is sound: secure the forests to secure the communities. But the execution is uneven. Guards need equipment, not just uniforms. They need intelligence, not just enthusiasm. They need coordination, not just independence. Forest guards are a tool. They are not the solution. The solution is a comprehensive security architecture that includes police, military, intelligence, and community participation. Forest guards are a part of that. But only a part. The rest must follow.