Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has assured 1,008 newly graduated National Forest Guards of full operational support, declaring that no road in the state is currently closed due to insecurity.
Radda gave the assurance on Friday during the passing-out parade and graduation ceremony of the personnel under the Presidential Forest Guard Initiative at the People’s Square, Katsina.
The graduates include 18 women.
The governor also disclosed that the newly trained personnel would be deployed to vulnerable communities and strategic forest locations to strengthen security operations and prevent criminal elements from using forests as hideouts.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, Radda expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for approving the recruitment and deployment of the guards to the state.
He described the initiative as a strategic intervention aimed at addressing security challenges, particularly in vulnerable communities and forest areas.
The governor recalled appealing personally to Tinubu for urgent security intervention following attacks in some communities, including Matazu, noting that the President responded with the recruitment of the guards and additional military support.
He said the new personnel would complement existing security agencies and strengthen efforts to reclaim forests previously used as operational bases by criminal groups.
Radda, who assumed office in May 2023, said his administration had maintained close collaboration with federal security agencies through intelligence sharing, coordinated operations and logistical assistance.
“The same level of support and cooperation we have extended to other security agencies will also be extended to the National Forest Guards in Katsina State.
“Whatever operational requirements they may have, the state government will provide the necessary support to enable them to discharge their responsibilities effectively,” he said.
The governor attributed what he described as an improvement in the state’s security situation to the combined efforts of conventional security agencies and community-based initiatives, particularly the Katsina State Community Watch Corps.
He said markets previously affected by insecurity had reopened, commercial activities were returning, schools had resumed and farmers were increasingly accessing their farmlands.
Radda added that his recent visits to 11 local government areas, accompanied by journalists, provided evidence of the resumption of farming and other economic activities.
He also identified the Community Development Programme as part of his administration’s efforts to address local development challenges, explaining that it allows communities to identify their needs and work with the government to implement solutions.
On the integration of the new guards, the governor said they would work alongside the Community Watch Corps to strengthen security coverage in rural settlements and forest locations.
“The Community Watch Corps brings extensive knowledge of our communities, while the Forest Guards will provide dedicated security presence in our forests.
“Together, we will close the gap between our villages and the forests that criminal elements have exploited for too long,” he said.
The governor further disclosed that his administration had continued to assist victims of insecurity through relief materials, medical support and financial interventions for families affected by kidnappings, deaths and destruction of livelihoods.
He commended the Nigerian Army, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Air Force, Department of State Services and other security agencies for their sacrifices.
He urged them to strengthen intelligence gathering, patrols and joint operations.
Radda also acknowledged the contributions of traditional rulers, religious leaders and community stakeholders towards promoting peace and peaceful coexistence.
Addressing the graduates, he urged them to respect the rights and dignity of civilians, maintain discipline and cooperate with other security agencies.
“Your conduct and performance will determine how the Forest Guard is perceived in Katsina State and across Nigeria. I therefore urge you to be good ambassadors of our state and country,” he charged.
Earlier, the representative of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Assistant Director-General of the DSS, I. O. Shotayo, announced the immediate deployment of the 1,008 graduates to vulnerable communities and strategic forest locations across the state.
Shotayo commended Radda for his commitment and support towards the successful implementation of the initiative.
He described the programme as a collaborative effort between the Federal Government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser, and the Katsina State Government.
He disclosed that Katsina was approximately the 14th state to conduct a graduation ceremony under the nationwide Presidential Forest Guard Initiative introduced by Tinubu.
According to him, the guards have a dual responsibility of protecting forests, wildlife, watersheds and biodiversity, while supporting the country’s security architecture, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach communities.
He said the initiative involved the Office of the National Security Adviser, Federal Ministry of Environment, National Park Service, DSS and other security institutions, with operational contributions from the Defence Headquarters, Army, Navy and Air Force.
Shotayo added that the personnel were expected to provide actionable human intelligence, strengthen government presence in vulnerable territories and deny criminal elements safe havens.
He said their training combined environmental conservation with tactical security skills, including discipline, loyalty, professionalism, ethics and respect for human rights.
The NSA’s representative warned that the Federal Government would not tolerate disloyalty, operational negligence or misconduct among the personnel.
Also speaking, the Katsina Training Coordinator, Lieutenant Commandant George Aka, said all 1,008 trainees drawn from different local government areas of the state had successfully completed an intensive training programme.
He said instructors from the National Park Service, Police, DSS, Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service conducted the training.
According to him, the curriculum covered firearms handling, tactical movements, patrol operations, ambush and anti-ambush drills, map reading, environmental conservation, endangered species protection and emergency medical response.
The trainees also underwent live-fire exercises, marksmanship assessments, obstacle-crossing drills, long-range patrol simulations and tactical combat exercises.
Aka expressed satisfaction with their performance, describing them as disciplined and professionally prepared to protect lives, property and natural resources.
He said their deployment would strengthen efforts to tackle banditry, cattle rustling, illegal logging and other criminal activities threatening communities and forest resources.
The ceremony featured parade inspections, slow march, firearms handling and marksmanship demonstrations, timed shooting exercises and tactical combat simulations.
It was attended by members of the Katsina State Executive Council, permanent secretaries, local government chairmen, heads of security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, forest guard commanders and instructors, among other dignitaries.
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