Deployment of forest guards will encourage farmers to go to farm- Gettado
From Ahmad Muhammad, Bauchi
The National President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria.(AFAN) Hon. Muhammed Magaji Gettadohas explained that deployment of 7000 forest guards will encourage farmers to go back to farm for dry season farming across the country .
Gettado expressed happiness with the efforts made by the Federal Government to protect farmers during dry and wet farming through the establishment of 7000 Forest guards.Alhaji Magaji Gettado said this to newsmen in Bauchi
,He said the recent graduation of over 7,000 newly recruited Forest Guards drawn from seven frontline states, with immediate deployment ordered will strengthen internal security and reclaim Nigeria’s forests from criminal elements.
President said AFAN followed with keen interest the passion, concern, and interest shown by the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in tackling headlong all security threats bedeviling the country,
A case in point is the recent graduation of Seven Thousand (7000) forest guards for immediate deployment. This programmatic approach was coordinated through the office of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and participants were drawn from seven front line states under the presidential forest guards initiative launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May, 2025.
“He said the All Farmers Association of Nigeria notes with delight and expressed confidence that the bold initiative no doubt represents a coordinated federal and state security intervention aimed at reclaiming Nigeria’s forest from criminal elements unleashing terror and mayhem on our innocent and defenseless citizens. “President said
“We received with great nostalgia the news of the graduation ceremony of the agile and energetic forest guards who were graduated on Saturday, 27th December, 2025 across: Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, Zamfara and Kebbi States.”
Magaji said “Given the profound impact of security on the lives, livelihoods of ordinary citizens farming activities, businesses, religious, social and economic activities, the new initiative superintendent by our ebullient and hardworking National Security Adviser will no doubt open the floodgates and easy access to farms by our hardworking farmers who before now had abandoned their farms for fear of their dear lives following the threats by hoodlums and criminal elements in the society.
Also, the intervention will no doubt strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture by denying terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups sanctuary with forested and hard-to-reach terrains at the same time the deployment of the forest guards will encourage farmers to go back to farm for dry season farming
“President said “citizens farming activities, businesses, religious, social and economic activities, the new initiative superintendent by our ebullient and hardworking National Security Adviser will no doubt open the floodgates and easy access to farms by our hardworking farmers who before now had abandoned their farms for fear of their dear lives following the threats by hoodlums and criminal elements in the society.
Also, the intervention will no doubt strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture by denying terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups sanctuary with forested and hard-to-reach terrains at the same time the deployment of the forest guards will encourage farmers to go back to farm for dry and rainy season farming”.He said
The All Farmers Association of called on state governments to cooperate with the forest guards and also compliment the efforts of the Federal Government in fighting crimes and insecurity in their States.
We assure you of our unflinching support and cooperation in the attainment of this noble objective aimed at providing succor and a relief to our farmers across the length and breadth of the country.
You would recalled that the Federal Government trained 7000 Forest guard in seven states aimed at denying terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups access to forested and hard-to-reach areas used as hideouts.
The Federal Government said the training was deliberately rigorous, combining environmental conservation principles with advanced security competencies to produce a disciplined and mission-ready force capable of sustained forest operations.
Trainees underwent physical and mental conditioning, long-range patrol simulations, tactical fieldcraft, ambush response drills and rescue operations as part of effort toward restoring state authority and protecting vulnerable communities.
The guards are first responders, community protectors, and a critical layer of Nigeria’s security architecture.”.
