Borno Government Hands Over 925 Forest Guards to Operation HADIN KAI

By Ali Mohammed Zanna, Maiduguri

The Borno State Government has handed over 925 newly trained forest guards to the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), for deployment to areas of operational need as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the state.

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.

The training was designed to equip the volunteers with basic military skills and prepare them to provide auxiliary support to the Nigerian Armed Forces while operating under military authority.

Speaking at the passing-out ceremony, the representative of the Executive Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, mni, FNSC, and Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman A. Tar, said the forest guard initiative was introduced by the state government to harness local capacity in support of the fight against insurgency.

Professor Tar said the guards were recruited from across the state to complement the efforts of the armed forces, particularly through their knowledge of local terrain, languages and culture.

He disclosed that the state had previously trained about 3,600 forest guards, adding that the latest batch was part of the government’s continued efforts to strengthen local support for security operations.

According to him, the forest guards would operate as auxiliary support forces and not as regular soldiers, stressing that national defence and security remained the responsibility of the armed forces.

He said the 925 graduates would be handed over to the Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Ibukunle Ajose, who would determine their deployment based on operational requirements.

Professor Tar also stressed the importance of sustained collaboration between civilian authorities and the military, particularly as terrorists and other criminal elements continued to adapt their methods of operation.

He said the forest guards’ knowledge of local communities and difficult terrain would complement the capabilities of the armed forces and support operational effectiveness.

The Commissioner urged the graduates to remain disciplined, loyal and respectful of the military chain of command, warning them against actions capable of undermining security operations.

He charged them to use the skills acquired during the training responsibly and avoid conduct that could bring disrepute to the state or security agencies.

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 graduates to channel their training towards supporting operations against terrorists, insurgents and criminals, rather than using their newly acquired skills to intimidate or harass law-abiding citizens.

The Commandant of the Northeast Theatre Training School said the two-week programme exposed the trainees to weapons handling, stripping and assembling of weapons, aiming and firing, ambush and counter-ambush tactics, cordon and search operations, improvised explosive device awareness, self-defence, and operations under difficult terrain and weather conditions.

He added that the trainees underwent battle inoculation exercises designed to familiarise them with battlefield conditions and improve their confidence and ability to respond appropriately under pressure.

The commandant commended Governor Zulum for the state government’s support for the training and welfare of the forest guards, while appreciating the Nigerian Army leadership for providing the resources and personnel required for the exercise.

The ceremony was attended by senior military officers and officials of the Borno State Government, including the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Sugun Mai Mele; Sector 2 Commander, Brigadier General A.D. Efiong; Sector 3 Commander, Brigadier General S.S. Ahmed; and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Internal Security, Mallam Aminu Jamalwa.

The passing-out of the 925 forest guards marks another phase in the Borno State Government’s efforts to strengthen civil-military cooperation and mobilise local support for ongoing security operations across the state. This version is structured for newspaper publication, with the Borno State Government’s role as the main story angle and Major General Ibukunle Ajose correctly identified as Theatre Commander.