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By Abdullahi Ahmed
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has declared that there will be no safe haven for terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements in the state, following the successful completion of training by about 1,000 Forest Guards.
The guards passed out on Saturday in Ilorin and are set for immediate deployment to forested and vulnerable communities across the state to curb terrorism, kidnapping, illegal mining and other criminal activities.
Governor AbdulRazaq described the Forest Guards initiative as a game changer that will significantly strengthen the state’s security architecture, warning criminal elements to either leave Kwara or face severe consequences.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he called a bold and innovative approach to reclaiming Nigeria’s forests from criminal elements and enhancing public safety nationwide.
The Governor also praised the commitment of the security agencies, noting that the collaboration between conventional security forces and the newly trained auxiliary forest guards—drawn from local communities—will deepen intelligence gathering and operational effectiveness.
“Today opens a new page in our campaign against all forms of terrorism, kidnapping and opportunistic attacks by bad faith actors who exploit our vast forest resources for evil purposes,” AbdulRazaq said.
He added that the enlistment of armed forest guards underscores the government’s determination to rid the country of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
“The message is clear: terrorists now have the option of leaving our state immediately or paying a heavy price.”
“We are going on the offensive because our people deserve to live in peace as freeborn citizens,” the Governor declared.
Addressing the new guards, Governor AbdulRazaq described their assignment as a national duty, urging them to work closely with security agencies to flush out criminals, restore sanity in the forests and safeguard communities.
He disclosed plans, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), to ensure that each local government area in Kwara has at least 200 forest guards to strengthen forest security and complement local vigilante efforts.
Speaking on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Assistant Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr Femi Shotayo, said the Forest Guards would be deployed immediately to threatened communities in pilot states, especially forested and ungoverned areas.
Mallam Ribadu explained that the Presidential Forest Guards initiative is a joint federal and state effort, with pilot states including Adamawa, Borno, Kwara, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto and Yobe.
He said the guards have a dual mandate: to protect and sustainably manage forest ecosystems and to serve as a critical force multiplier in the fight against banditry, insurgency, terrorism and other crimes.
The NSA assured that salaries and allowances for the guards would commence immediately, while urging them to strictly observe their oaths of allegiance, respect human rights, gender rights and rules of engagement.
“The oath of allegiance is a binding pledge of loyalty to the Nigerian state and a commitment to professionalism, discipline and the protection of lives and property,” Ribadu said.
Highlights of the ceremony included demonstrations of operational skills, attack and self-defence techniques acquired during training, showcasing the guards’ readiness to combat banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, deforestation and illegal mining.
The passing-out ceremony was attended by security commanders in the state, members of the State Executive Council, local government chairpersons, traditional rulers, and heads of federal and state agencies as well as tertiary institutions.
