Katsina State Launches 1,008 Forest Guards to Fight Banditry

The Katsina State Government has set up 1,008 forest guards. This move aims to boost security in forest areas and fight bandits, terrorists, cattle rustlers, and illegal loggers.

Governor Dikko Radda announced this on Friday. He spoke during the graduation and passing-out ceremony for the forest guards in Katsina.

He urged them to do their jobs well and be good representatives of the country and their communities.

Radda said, "The forest guards will work with about 3,000 members of the state-owned Community Watch Corps, the Civilian Joint Task Force, vigilantes and hunters to secure forests and other areas prone to security issues across the state."

The governor promised that his government would provide the guards with the equipment and support they need to do their jobs effectively. He expressed concern that the state's forest reserves, which used to support local communities, had turned into hideouts for criminals.

Radda also mentioned the steps his administration has taken. This includes starting the Community Watch Corps and supporting regular security agencies. He noted that these efforts have helped to reduce banditry and terrorism in the state.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu for starting the initiative to establish forest guards in different states. Radda sees this as an important step towards securing the nation's forest areas.

Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, also spoke at the event. He said the 1,008 forest guards would be sent out right away to vulnerable communities. Their jobs will include gathering intelligence, protecting forest reserves, and helping to address insecurity.

Ribadu, who was represented by I.O. Shotoyo, a former Assistant Director of the Department of State Services, told the guards to maintain discipline, professionalism, and respect for human rights while working.

He said, "The nation counts on you. We expect you to serve with courage, discipline and integrity so that you can reclaim every inch of our forests."

Earlier, Lt. Col. George Agar, who trained the forest guards, shared that the group includes 990 men and 18 women. They completed eight weeks of intensive training.

Agar explained that the training covered various combat scenarios. This included handling AK-47 rifles, gathering intelligence, night operations, confronting suspected terrorists, rescuing kidnapped people, and stopping illegal logging.

He is confident that the training has given the guards the skills needed to tackle security threats and protect the forests. The guards were mostly recruited from communities near the forest areas affected by insecurity. They are expected to start their operations immediately.