The Kaduna State Government has graduated the first batch of 1,000 Armed Forest Guards as part of a renewed effort to tackle insecurity and reclaim forests previously used as hideouts by bandits and other criminal groups.
Speaking during the passing-out parade in Kaduna, Governor Uba Sani described the initiative as a significant milestone in the state's fight against insecurity. He said the newly trained guards would work alongside the Armed Forces and other security agencies by improving surveillance, intelligence gathering, and rapid response operations in forest communities.
According to the governor, the Forest Guards were established to prevent criminals from using forest areas as operational bases. He noted that the personnel had undergone intensive training and were equipped with the skills needed to combat banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and other security threats.
Governor Sani said the outfit would collaborate closely with the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other security agencies, stressing that the guards are meant to complement—not replace—existing security structures.
He also highlighted improvements in security across Kaduna State, including the reopening of more than 125 schools previously shut due to insecurity, the return of farming and healthcare services in affected communities, and improved access to several local government areas.
The governor appealed to the Federal Government to approve the recruitment of an additional 1,000 Forest Guards for the state. He also commended President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for supporting the initiative.
Governor Sani urged the newly graduated personnel to carry out their duties with professionalism, discipline, integrity, and respect for human rights. He also called on residents to support security efforts by providing timely and credible intelligence.
Representing the National Security Adviser, Director of Internal Security Sani Sani said the Forest Guard initiative was launched by President Tinubu in 2025 to secure ungoverned forest areas, protect natural resources, and enhance public safety.
He disclosed that 1,101 personnel completed the two-month training programme, which covered weapons handling, physical fitness, combat readiness, civil-military cooperation, and international humanitarian law. He assured the graduates that deployment and salary payments would begin without delay.
Training Officer Lieutenant Commander Sani Abdullahi of the Nigerian Navy said the curriculum included marksmanship, patrol and tracking, raid and ambush tactics, combat first aid, communication skills, and cordon-and-search operations, producing disciplined personnel ready to support security operations and protect lives and property.
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