The Kaduna State government has graduated a thousand specially trained forest guards to strengthen surveillance in forest areas and support security agencies. The step was presented as part of a wider drive to improve security across the rural communities of the state, where insecurity has remained a persistent concern.
Speaking at the Passing Out Parade in Kaduna State, Governor Uba Sani said the initiative is designed to restore peace and to safeguard lives and property, especially in rural areas. He tied the deployment of the new guards to the broader goal of protecting communities that have been most exposed to attacks.
The 1,000 forest guards completed their program after eight weeks of intensive military-style and academic training. Having finished that training, they are now described as ready for deployment across vulnerable communities in Kaduna State, where they are expected to reinforce security on the ground.
The training was conducted by the Kaduna State government in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Advisor. It is aimed at complementing existing security agencies in tackling rural banditry, kidnapping and other security threats that have affected communities in the state.
During the program, the trainees underwent rigorous instruction in a range of areas. These included combat operations, intelligence, weapon handling, surveillance and field operations, as well as communication procedures and offensive and defensive operations, preparing them for the tasks ahead.
As the reviewing officer, the governor inspected the parade mounted by the newly trained forest guards. The graduates performed a march past in slow and quick time, presenting themselves to the authorities at the end of their training before being formally cleared for their new role.
The guards were certified fit for deployment by the instructors and commended by the representative of the National Security Advisor. At the same time, they were reminded to remain professional, to respect international human rights and to maintain cultural sensitivity while carrying out their duties in the communities where they will serve.