Tinubu Approves 1,000 Forest Guards for Katsina to Tackle Insecurity
President Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards for Katsina State in a fresh move aimed at strengthening security operations and curbing persistent insecurity in the state.
Governor Dikko Umaru Radda announced the approval on Tuesday while briefing journalists after a stakeholders’ meeting with Islamic clerics at the Government House in Katsina.
According to the governor, the newly recruited forest guards will undergo training and be adequately equipped to support the operations of security agencies, including the military, police, the Department of State Services and local vigilante groups.
The guards are expected to focus on securing remote and forested communities, many of which have become hideouts for criminal gangs and bandits operating in the North-West region.
Radda said the initiative is part of a broader collaboration between the federal and state governments to address banditry and other security challenges affecting Katsina and neighbouring states.
The governor described the presidential approval as a major boost to the state’s ongoing security efforts and expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the request.
“I want to appreciate Mr. President for approving our request to recruit 1,000 young, able-bodied men and women as forest guards. They will work alongside conventional security agencies and community watch groups,” Radda said.
He also commended the federal government for increasing the deployment of security personnel to the state, noting that the collaboration is crucial to restoring peace and stability.
However, the governor stressed that security agencies cannot win the fight against banditry without the active support of local communities. He noted that criminal groups often rely on collaborators for intelligence gathering, logistics support and the disposal of stolen livestock.
Radda therefore urged residents to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with credible information, insisting that lasting peace can only be achieved through collective efforts involving government, community leaders, religious institutions and citizens.
“Security is a collective responsibility. We urge all citizens to cooperate with authorities and contribute to peace in our communities,” the governor added.