Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening security network in order to curb the activities of criminal elements in all parts of the state.
Speaking on Saturday at the passing-out parade of about 1,000 Armed Forest Guards trained through a strategic partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Department of State Services (DSS), the governor described the exercise as a significant step in reinforcing the state’s security architecture.
At the graduation ceremony held at the DSS Development Centre in Afaka, Sani explained, “The newly trained personnel will serve as first responders in their respective communities, working closely with conventional security agencies to improve surveillance, strengthen intelligence gathering, and prevent criminal elements from using forests as safe havens for terrorism and other crimes.”
The governor stated that the 1,000 Armed Forest Guards were selected from the existing 7,000 personnel of the Kaduna Vigilance Service (KADVS), saying that they received specialised training to enhance their operational effectiveness with a view of bringing insecurity to the nearest minimum.
He explained that under the approved rules of engagement, the operatives would be equipped with higher-grade firearms than those previously issued to KADVS personnel, which will enable them to confront terrorists and other criminal elements more effectively.
He added that they would be deployed within their local communities so as to improve intelligence gathering due to their familiarity with the terrain.
Governor Sani also disclosed that the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu commended Kaduna State for being the first in the country to approach the Federal Government for the establishment and training of Armed Forest Guards, describing Kaduna’s training programme as the most successful of its kind in Nigeria.
The governor expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the DSS, and other security agencies for their support in strengthening security across the state.
Building on the success of the initiative, Sani announced that he had requested the training of an additional 1,000 Armed Forest Guards to further enhance Kaduna State’s security framework.
He congratulated the pioneer graduating class and commended their families for their support, reiterating his administration’s commitment to investing in proactive, and intelligence-driven security initiatives aimed at protecting lives, preserving peace, and creating an enabling environment for sustainable development.
Uba Sani reaffirms commitment to strengthening security network in Kaduna