The Kaduna State Government has commended the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for launching the Forest Guards initiative, describing it as a strategic response to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats in forested and rural communities.
Governor Uba Sani gave the commendation on Thursday while receiving a high-level ONSA delegation led by Major General HI Mabeokwu, Director of Defence Affairs, at the Government House in Kaduna. The delegation visited the state to assess the ongoing training of more than 1,000-armed forest guards being prepared for deployment to security flashpoints across Kaduna State.
TheFact Daily notes that Kaduna has for years remained one of Nigeria’s states most affected by armed banditry, kidnapping and attacks on rural communities, particularly in the Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Chikun, Igabi and Kajuru axis. Criminal groups have exploited vast forest belts that stretch into neighbouring states as hideouts and operational bases, making improved surveillance and sustained security presence in the forests a key priority for both the federal and state governments.
Speaking during the visit, Governor Sani said the initiative demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening security through closer collaboration with state governments. He reaffirmed his administration’s support for the programme and pledged continued commitment to the welfare of both the trainees and their instructors.
The ONSA delegation expressed satisfaction with the progress of the training, describing the exercise as well organised and the facilities provided as adequate. It also commended the Kaduna State Government for the welfare support extended to the trainees and instructors throughout the programme.
Officials disclosed that the trainees have completed about 60 per cent of the curriculum, which includes weapons handling, tactical operations and other field competencies required for effective forest security operations.
The evaluation team comprised representatives of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Park Service, the Nigeria Police Force and the Armed Forces.
The Kaduna training programme is being coordinated by ONSA under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative, which is designed to reclaim forests used by terrorists, bandits and kidnappers as operational bases.
Upon deployment, the forest guards are expected to complement conventional security agencies through intelligence gathering, forest patrols and sustained security operations in vulnerable areas.
