819 Forest Guards Graduate in Kebbi to Strengthen Fight Against Banditry

Kebbi State has taken a major step toward strengthening its internal security architecture with the successful graduation of 819 National Forest Guards, a move aimed at tackling banditry and forest-based criminal operations across the state.

The newly trained guards completed a rigorous nine-week intensive training exercise held in Kalgo Local Government Area. The training program was designed to equip them with the necessary skills to protect forest reserves and deny criminal elements the opportunity to use these locations as safe havens.

During the training period, participants were exposed to several core security modules. These included early warning intelligence gathering, forest patrol strategies, ambush and counter-ambush operations, as well as professional handling of AK-47 rifles. The focus was to ensure the guards are prepared to operate effectively within challenging forest terrains where criminal activities often thrive.

The training exercise was conducted under the joint supervision of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigerian military. This collaborative oversight highlights a coordinated national security approach and ensures that the forest guards meet established operational and professional standards.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony held on Saturday, Deputy Governor Umar Tafida called on residents, community leaders, and traditional rulers to actively support the newly deployed guards. He emphasized that community cooperation plays a critical role in intelligence sharing and is essential to achieving lasting success in the fight against banditry and forest-related crimes.

Representing the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the Commissioner of Police, Umar Hadejia, confirmed that the forest guards would be immediately deployed to high-risk forest corridors and ungoverned areas identified as security threats. According to him, the rapid deployment is intended to block criminal movement and disrupt illegal activities within forest zones.

Kebbi State is among the seven states selected for the pilot phase of the National Forest Guard initiative. As part of the initial rollout, Arewa, Augie, Dandi, and Danko-Wasagu Local Government Areas have been identified for early deployment of the guards, based on security assessments and vulnerability levels.

Deputy Governor Tafida further explained that the forest guards are not meant to replace existing security agencies. Instead, they are expected to complement current security formations, enhance surveillance, and prevent criminals from turning forest reserves into operational bases.

With the deployment now underway, residents across affected communities have expressed renewed hope that the increased security presence will disrupt bandit networks, reduce criminal activities, and gradually restore safety to rural areas that have long been exposed to insecurity.