In a significant move to bolster community security, the Niger State Government has officially commenced the recruitment and training of its inaugural batch of forest guards. This new security initiative spans all 25 local government areas of the state.
Governor Bago Boosts Morale at Training Ground
Governor Muhammad Umaru Bago personally visited the recruits at their training ground in Minna on Wednesday, 24th December 2025. The visit was designed for the governor to interact directly with the trainees and uplift their spirits ahead of their deployment.
During his address, Governor Bago congratulated the new personnel on their selection. He strongly urged them to remain disciplined and resilient in their forthcoming duties. The governor gave assurances that the state government is fully committed to providing all necessary support and ensuring their welfare while in service.
A Strategic Security Collaboration
The forest guard scheme represents a strategic partnership between the federal government and the Niger State Government. The core objective is to establish a permanent, armed, and locally knowledgeable security force.
This force has two primary mandates:
- To reclaim Nigeria's vast forests from occupation by various criminal elements.
- To protect the environment and natural resources within these forested areas.
Phased Recruitment for Statewide Coverage
Governor Bago also disclosed that the current batch is just the beginning of a larger plan. More recruits will be trained in subsequent batches to ensure the initiative has enough personnel to strengthen security across all communities in Niger State.
The deployment of these guards is expected to directly address security challenges linked to forest hideouts, providing a more grounded and familiar layer of protection for rural and forest-adjacent communities.
