News Investigators/ Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, on Friday, inaugurated 1,008 newly trained forest guards, charging them to demonstrate professionalism and discipline in tackling insecurity.
Mr Radda gave the charge at the graduation ceremony, organised in honour of the guards, in Katsina.
The guards underwent an eight-week intensive training programme.
The governor described the exercise as a significant step towards reclaiming forests that had become hideouts for bandits and other criminal elements.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the recruitment of the forest guards as well as the National Security Adviser and other federal officials for facilitating the initiative.
He promised that the State Government would provide the necessary operational support and welfare to enable the personnel to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
He explained that the forest guards would work alongside the three batches of the Katsina Community Watch Corps to strengthen surveillance and security operations in vulnerable communities and forest areas.
He also said the initiative would complement existing security arrangements through improved intelligence gathering, coordinated patrols and collaboration with federal security agencies.
The governor said the collaboration had contributed to improvement in the state’s security situation, with previously threatened communities gradually returning to normal life.
According to him, markets have reopened, schools have resumed, roads are accessible, while farmers have returned to their farmlands, following improved security.
He also highlighted the contributions of community-based peacebuilding initiatives in some areas, saying they had helped to restore peaceful coexistence among the residents.
Mr Radda said his administration had complemented security operations with humanitarian and development interventions, including medical assistance to victims of banditry and financial support to families affected by kidnappings and other attacks.
He urged the forest guards to maintain close cooperation with the Nigerian Army, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Service and other relevant security agencies.
He also called for collaboration with neighbouring states to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other locations across state boundaries as safe havens.
He paid tribute to security personnel, community watch corps members, vigilantes, hunters and other citizens, who lost their lives in the fight against insecurity, assuring their families of continued government support.
Mr Radda urged the graduating guards to respect human rights, maintain discipline and work closely with traditional rulers, religious leaders and residents in their areas of deployment.
He said their conduct would determine public confidence in the forest guard initiative, urging them to uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening security through investment in personnel, equipment, intelligence gathering, welfare and community development.
Earlier, the Training Coordinator, Katsina State Forest Guards, George Aker, said the 1,008 personnel were drawn from various local government areas of the state.
He said the programme was designed to equip the personnel with the requisite knowledge and operational skills to combat banditry, insurgency and other security threats in their respective communities.
Mr Aker described the initiative as a significant step towards strengthening community security, protecting lives and property, and safeguarding the state’s natural resources.
He urged the forest guards to remain disciplined, committed and professional, while operating within the established security guidelines.
NAN
