Kaduna Begins Training of 1,000 Forest Guards to Strengthen Fight Against Banditry
The Kaduna State Government has commenced the training of 1,000 newly recruited forest guards as part of efforts to further strengthen security and combat banditry across the state.
The six-week intensive training programme, taking place at the Police College in Kaduna, is being coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in collaboration with security agencies.
The initiative is designed to improve surveillance and security operations in forests and rural communities that have long served as hideouts for bandits and other criminal groups.
According to the state government, the forest guards will work closely with conventional security agencies after completing their training. They will also be equipped and deployed under the operational guidelines and rules of engagement approved by ONSA.
Upon completion of the programme, the personnel will be deployed to some of the state’s most vulnerable areas, including Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Kachia, Kagarko, Kajuru, Chikun and Igabi local government areas, where security challenges have remained a major concern.
The move is part of ongoing efforts by the administration of Governor Uba Sani to consolidate recent gains recorded in the fight against insecurity and enhance the protection of lives and property across Kaduna State.
Government officials expressed confidence that the deployment of the forest guards will boost intelligence gathering, improve rapid response capabilities and help deny criminal elements access to forest corridors often used to launch attacks on communities.
The programme also reflects the Federal Government’s broader strategy of strengthening grassroots security architecture through the recruitment and deployment of trained forest guards across states facing security threats.
