Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has charged 2,600 newly recruited forest guards to remain disciplined and committed as they undergo training aimed at strengthening security across the state.
Governor AbdulRazaq gave the charge during a visit to the forest guards’ training ground in Ilorin, according to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Akeweje Olayinka Fafoluyi.
The Governor encouraged the recruits and their instructors, describing the exercise as a critical step in his administration’s efforts to protect lives and property, particularly in rural communities affected by recent security threats.
His visit, officials said, boosted the morale of the trainees and reassured residents that concrete steps are being taken to restore peace and stability in vulnerable areas.
Officials at the training centre said the recruits have shown steady progress since the programme began, noting that the intensive, hands-on sessions are designed to prepare them for effective field operations once deployed.
The state government noted that the recruitment of the 2,600 forest guards is part of a broader security strategy to stabilise troubled parts of the state.
It added that over 700 forest guards have already been recruited, trained in basic military tactics, and deployed to work alongside security agencies to improve surveillance and tackle security challenges.
According to the government, while the military continues clearing criminal hideouts in ungoverned forests, the forest guards are expected to ensure that such reclaimed areas remain inaccessible to bandits and kidnappers, preventing them from returning to launch attacks on innocent residents.
