Oluwanifemi Ibikunle
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has charged 924 newly trained forest guards from Borno State to combine vigilance with professionalism and restraint as they take up responsibilities for securing forest areas and protecting surrounding communities.
Shaibu gave the charge at the graduation ceremony of the guards, who underwent six weeks of intensive military training at the Nigerian Army’s 3 Division in Jos, Plateau State.
Represented by the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander, Operation Enduring Peace, Maj. Gen. Maxwell Dangana, the Army chief said the guards had a critical role to play in strengthening security around forest communities.
He urged them to remain vigilant, respect human rights and operate within the law, warning against abuses in the course of their duties.
According to him, the ability of the guards to identify threats, respond appropriately and provide timely intelligence could help security agencies prevent attacks and save lives.
“Newly trained forest guards have been charged to combine vigilance with professionalism, restraint and respect for human rights as they assume responsibilities for protecting communities and securing forest areas,” Dangana said.
He stressed that the responsibility entrusted to the guards required a high level of accountability, urging them to earn the confidence of the communities they would serve.
The guards were trained in weapon handling, shooting, patrol techniques, physical fitness, discipline and tactical awareness.
They also received training on operating in difficult forest terrain and responding to security threats during both day and night operations. Their training included tactical movements on foot and motorcycles.
During the graduation ceremony, the guards demonstrated some of the skills acquired, including shooting exercises at different ranges and ambush drills.
The Chief of Training, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Valentin Okoro, described the graduation as a significant milestone in efforts to protect forests and natural resources while strengthening security in vulnerable communities.
Okoro said the security challenges in some forested areas had made it necessary to develop the capacity of personnel who could operate effectively in such environments.
He said the six-week training had improved the guards’ physical endurance, weapon proficiency, practical skills and ability to operate in challenging environments.
“The training has prepared them to operate in challenging and complex environments with professionalism, vigilance and a strong sense of duty,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary, Borno State Ministry of Information and Internal Security, Aminu Chamalwa, commended the guards for their discipline, courage, determination and precision during the training.
Chamalwa assured that the Borno State Government would deploy the guards judiciously to complement existing security efforts and protect communities across the state.
The deployment is expected to strengthen security around forest areas by providing early warning on emerging threats, supporting patrol operations and helping to prevent criminal elements from using forests as hideouts.
The initiative is particularly significant in Borno, where the security environment has made the protection of remote communities and difficult-to-access areas a major challenge for security agencies.
The guards are expected to serve as a link between forest communities and conventional security forces, providing intelligence and early alerts while supporting efforts to deny criminals access to forest corridors.
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