The Borno State Government has deployed 925 trained forest guards to support the Nigerian Army in its ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the Northeast. 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. This initiative is part of the state's efforts to strengthen local support for security operations and harness local capacity in the fight against insurgency.
The forest guards were handed over to the Nigerian Army in a ceremony in Maiduguri, where they were tasked with providing auxiliary support to the armed forces. According to the Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, the forest guards will operate under military authority and use their knowledge of local terrain, languages, and culture to complement the efforts of the armed forces.
The training programme was designed to equip the forest guards with basic military skills, including weapons handling, stripping and assembling of weapons, aiming and firing, ambush and counter-ambush tactics, and improvised explosive device awareness. The trainees also underwent battle inoculation exercises to familiarise them with battlefield conditions and improve their confidence and ability to respond under pressure.
This is not the first batch of forest guards deployed by the Borno State Government. According to Prof. Tar, the state had previously trained about 3,600 forest guards, and the latest batch is part of the government's continued efforts to strengthen local support for security operations. The forest guards will be deployed to the Sambisa Forest, which comprises 12 Local Government Areas and is believed to be a hideout for thousands of terrorists.
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 use their training responsibly and channel their efforts towards supporting operations against terrorists, insurgents, and criminals.
The forest guards will operate as auxiliary support forces and not as regular soldiers, stressing that national defence and security remain the responsibility of the armed forces. Prof. Tar urged them to remain disciplined, loyal, and respectful of the military chain of command, warning them against actions capable of undermining security operations.
The deployment of forest guards is part of the Borno State Government's efforts to strengthen the fight against terrorism in the state. With their knowledge of local communities and difficult terrain, the forest guards are expected to complement the capabilities of the armed forces and support operational effectiveness.
Key points
- The Borno State Government has deployed 925 trained forest guards to support the Nigerian Army in its ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the Northeast.
- The forest guards completed a two-week in-theatre acclimatisation training at the Northeast Theatre Training School.
- The deployment is part of the state's efforts to strengthen local support for security operations and harness local capacity in the fight against insurgency.
