Kaduna govt graduates over 1,000 forest guards to boost fight against terrorism

The Kaduna State Government has graduated over 1,000 Armed Forest Guards as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s security architecture and combat terrorism and other criminal activities.

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, who reviewed the parade, described the graduation as a defining moment in Kaduna’s quest for lasting peace, safety and sustainable development.

The Passing-Out Parade of the pioneer batch was held at the Department of State Services (DSS) Development Centre in Afaka, Kaduna, on Saturday, August 1, 2026.

The guards were trained through a partnership involving the Kaduna State Government, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the DSS.

Sani the newly trained personnel will serve as first responders in their respective communities, working alongside conventional security agencies to improve surveillance, strengthen intelligence gathering, and prevent criminals from using forests as safe havens.

Sani stated that the 1,000 Forest Guards were selected from the existing 7,000 personnel of the Kaduna Vigilance Service (KADVS), whose operational capacity has now been enhanced through specialised training.

He noted that, under the approved rules of engagement, the guards would be equipped with higher-grade firearms than those previously used by KADVS personnel, enabling them to confront terrorists and other criminal elements more effectively.

“Their deployment to their immediate communities will further strengthen intelligence gathering and operational effectiveness, as their knowledge of the local terrain will enable them to identify threats quickly and respond decisively,” governor said.

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Sani also disclosed that Kaduna was the first state to approach the federal government for the establishment and training of Armed Forest Guards, adding that the Office of the National Security Adviser described the state’s programme as the most successful of its kind in the country.

He expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the DSS, and other security agencies for their support in implementing the initiative.

Building on the success of the programme, the governor revealed that he had requested the training of an additional 1,000 Forest Guards to further strengthen security across the state.

He congratulated the pioneer graduating class and their families, assuring residents that his administration would continue investing in proactive and intelligence-driven security measures to protect lives, secure communities, and promote sustainable development.