1,008 newly graduated National Forest Guards, including 18 women, have passed out in Katsina State.
Governor Dikko Radda reviewed the passing-out parade of the guards in Katsina on Saturday.
Radda said the graduation followed his visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a few months ago to seek urgent federal intervention when insecurity escalated across the Musawa and Matazu axis.
He said the President responded with sustained military operations across the affected areas and Katsina at large and the recruitment of over 1,000 National Forest Guards to complement the efforts of existing security agencies.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing them with the necessary operational support and ensuring effective collaboration with other security agencies, particularly the Katsina Community Watch Corps, to strengthen security across communities and forests.
He said: “We are gradually witnessing improvements in the security situation. Markets are reopening, schools are resuming, farmers are returning to their farmlands, and, today, no road in Katsina State is closed due to insecurity.”
Radda appreciated President Tinubu for his timely intervention and commended security agencies, especially the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, for their sacrifices and continued commitment to protecting lives and property.
To the newly graduated Forest Guards, he urged them to uphold discipline, professionalism, loyalty and respect for human rights in the discharge of their duties.
“Our resolve is to sustain these gains, reclaim our forests from criminal elements and secure lasting peace across Katsina State,” he said.
