KADUNA — In a major push to flush out bandits, kidnappers, and non-state actors operating from ungoverned forest reserves, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani reviewed the passing-out parade of 1,101 newly trained Armed Forest Guards.
The ceremony, held in Kaduna, marks a strategic effort by the state government to deploy localized, terrain-knowledgeable forces into long-standing criminal hideouts—particularly across volatile corridors in Southern Kaduna and neighboring LGAs including Zangon Kataf, Kauru, Kachia, Kajuru, Birnin Gwari, and Giwa.
Key Operational Mandates of the New Security Unit
Describing the initiative as a defining moment in Kaduna’s security architecture, Governor Uba Sani emphasized that the specialized force was created to reclaim the state’s forests and restore agrarian livelihoods:
- Denying Criminal Safe Havens: The primary objective of the Armed Forest Guards is to dislodge bandit camps, dismantle kidnapping rings, and stop cattle rustling networks that have exploited rural forest corridors for years.
- Inter-Agency Collaboration: The personnel will serve as early responders and intelligence gatherers, working in direct synergy with the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
- Intensive Combat & Tactical Training: Handled by elite instructors from the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service, the DSS, and the National Park Service, the 1,101 guards underwent two months of rigorous instruction in weapons marksmanship, tracking, ambush tactics, combat first aid, and international humanitarian law.
Focus on Southern Kaduna and Rural Stabilization
Governor Sani noted that targeted security interventions are already yielding tangible results across previously high-risk local government areas, including key Southern Kaduna LGAs:
“Large sections of Kaduna’s forests had for years served as safe havens for bandits and kidnappers, leading to loss of lives, displacement of residents, and disruption of farming activities. The guards’ intimate knowledge of the local terrain will significantly improve intelligence gathering and rapid response capabilities.”
— Gov. Uba Sani, Kaduna State Governor
The governor highlighted that improved security coordination has already enabled the reopening of over 125 previously closed schools and allowed farming activities to resume in communities across Birnin Gwari, Zangon Kataf, Giwa, Kauru, Kachia, and Kajuru.
Forest Guard Deployment Matrix
BATCH GRADUATED: 1,101 Armed Forest Guards (Batch 1)
TRAINING DURATION: June 15 – August 1, 2026 (2 Months)
INSTRUCTORS: Nigerian Navy SBS, DSS, and National Park Service
PRIORITY DEPLOYMENT: Southern Kaduna & Frontier LGAs (Zangon Kataf, Kauru, Kachia, Kajuru, Birnin Gwari, Giwa)
FEDERAL BACKING: Supported by President Bola Tinubu & NSA Nuhu Ribadu
REQUEST FOR EXPANSION: Governor Sani formally requested approval for an additional 1,000 guards
Request for Federal Expansion
Representing the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu at the event, Director of Internal Security Sani Sani confirmed that the Forest Guard program aligns with federal strategies to secure ungoverned hinterlands nationwide. He assured the graduates that immediate deployment and operational payments would begin without delay.
Consolidating on the momentum, Governor Uba Sani formally appealed to the Federal Government to approve the immediate recruitment and training of an additional 1,000 Forest Guards to ensure complete coverage of all forest borders across Kaduna State.
