The Borno State Government, has handed over no fewer than 925 trained forest guards to the Nigerian Army to secure and protect the Sambisa Forest in ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the Northeast.

The Army said the forest which comprises 12 Local Government Areas (LGAs) that hibernate thousands of terrorists.

It added that the deployment of forest guards is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the fight against terrorism in the state.

Speaking at the handing over evenr at weekend in Maiduguri, representative of Governor Babagana Zulum, the Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, disclosed: “The forest guards, drawn from the 27 local government areas of Borno State, completed a two-week in-theatre acclimatisation training at the Northeast Theatre Training School.

“The training was designed to equip the volunteers with basic military skills and prepare them to provide auxiliary support to the Nigerian Armed Forces while operating under military authority.”

Tar added that the forest guards initiative was introduced by the State government to harness local capacity in support of the fight against insurgency.

He said the forest security guards were recruited from across the state to complement the efforts of the armed forces, particularly through their knowledge of local terrain, languages and culture.

Tar further revealed that the state had previously trained about 3,600 forest guards, adding that the latest batch was part of the government’s continued efforts to strengthen local support for security operations.

According to him, the forest guards would operate as auxiliary support forces and not as regular soldiers, stressing that national defence and security remained the responsibility of the armed forces.

He said the 925 graduates would be handed over to the Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Ibukunle Ajose, who would determine their deployment based on operational requirements.

Pro. Tar also stressed the importance of sustained collaboration between civilian authorities and the military, particularly as terrorists and other criminal elements continued to adapt their methods of operation.

He said the forest guards’ knowledge of local communities and difficult terrain would complement the capabilities of the armed forces and support operational effectiveness.

The Commissioner urged them to remain disciplined, loyal and respectful of the military chain of command, warning them against actions capable of undermining security operations.

He, therefore charged them to use the skills acquired during the training responsibly and avoid conduct that could bring disrepute to the state or security agencies.

The Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Ibukunle Ajose, commended the Borno State Government for its sustained support to the military and the forest guard initiative.

He urged the graduands to channel their training towards supporting operations against terrorists, insurgents and criminals, rather than using their newly acquired skills to intimidate or harass law-abiding citizens.

The Commandant of the Northeast Theatre Training School said; “The two-week programme exposed the trainees to weapons handling, stripping and assembling of weapons, aiming and firing, ambush and counter-ambush tactics, cordon and search operations, improvised explosive device awareness, self-defence, and operations under difficult terrain and weather conditions.”

He added that the trainees underwent battle inoculation exercises designed to familiarise them with battlefield conditions and improve their confidence and ability to respond appropriately under pressure.

He commandant commended Governor Zulum for the state government’s support for the training and welfare of the forest guards, while appreciating the Nigerian Army leadership for providing the resources and personnel required for the exercise.