Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has officially commissioned 530 newly trained members of the National Forest Guards. This inaugural group is tasked with securing the state’s forests and protecting local communities from criminal activity.
Representing the Governor at the ceremony in Lokoja, Comrade Joel Salifu emphasized that the unit’s creation highlights the joint commitment of the state and federal governments to eradicate criminal strongholds. Governor Ododo praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for launching this security initiative, which prioritizes community-level protection.
The administration views security as the cornerstone of its development goals, noting that stability is essential for growth in sectors like agriculture and infrastructure. These guards are expected to focus on intelligence gathering and collaboration with established security services. Of the 539 candidates who began the eight-week program, 530 finished the training.
Governor Ododo reminded the guards that their true success lies in crime prevention and maintaining peace. He also urged local leaders and citizens to assist these efforts by providing reliable intelligence to security personnel. General Hilary Martins, representing the National Security Adviser, lauded both the federal and state governments for this initiative, which aims to secure vulnerable forest regions across the country.
