The All Farmers Association of Nigeria has stated that the Federal Government’s graduation and deployment of over 7,000 forest guards will encourage farmers to return to farming during the dry and rainy seasons.
In a statement welcoming the government’s decision, AFAN noted that the intervention would also strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture by denying terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal groups sanctuary in forested and hard-to-reach areas.
AFAN National President, Muhammed Gettado, affirmed that improved security is critical to livelihoods and agricultural productivity. He noted that many farmers had abandoned their farms due to persistent attacks by criminals.
He said, “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 farming for the dry and rainy seasons.”
The PUNCH reported that, on December 27, 2025, more than 7,000 newly recruited forest guards, drawn from seven frontline states, graduated from a three-month training programme under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative. The graduation ceremonies were held in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi states.
AFAN boss Gettado added that the new initiative will open the floodgates and provide easy access to farms by our hardworking farmers who, before now, had abandoned their farms for fear of their lives.
He commended the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu for what it described as a decisive move to tackle security challenges confronting the country.
AFAN expressed confidence that the initiative represented “a coordinated federal and state security intervention aimed at reclaiming Nigeria’s forests from criminal elements unleashing terror and mayhem on our innocent and defenceless citizens.”
The association urged state governments to cooperate with forest guards and complement the federal government’s efforts in tackling insecurity.
Additionally, it assured farmers and authorities of its “unflinching support and cooperation” toward achieving what it described as a noble objective aimed at providing relief and renewed confidence for farmers across the country.
