.……Be Fearless Against Terrorists, Theatre Commander Charges New Forest Guards
A total of 925 Borno State Forest Guards have graduated after a two-week in-theatre acclimatization training at the North East Theatre Training School (NETTS), Buni Yadi, Yobe State.
The graduation ceremony was held on September 20, 2026, with the Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Ibikunle Ajose, charging the guards to be fearless, decisive and professional in supporting counter-terrorism efforts.
Ajose said their knowledge of the local terrain would complement military operations and enhance counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.
He urged them to be disciplined, respect law-abiding citizens and avoid harassment and rivalry with other security agencies.
The Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum, represented by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, said the 925 personnel drawn from the 27 local government areas would be handed over to the Theatre Command for deployment.
He said the Forest Guard initiative was created to provide auxiliary support to the Armed Forces and that their knowledge of terrain, languages and culture would make them effective force multipliers.
Earlier, the Commandant of NETTS, Brigadier General Amadike Onaogu, said the training was to build confidence, resilience, discipline and adaptability, not to transform them into soldiers, but to equip them to complement security operations.
Ajose commended the Borno State Government and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, for their support to the training and operation.
