The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, visited the training ground of the newly recruited 2,600 additional forest guards in Ilorin, the capital of the State, to assess the quality of their ongoing multifaceted training.
The governor used the visit to encourage the prospective guards and their instructors, a move that reflects his administration’s continued commitment to improving the security of lives and property across the state.
His presence at the facility is expected to further lift the morale of the trainees and reassure residents, especially those in communities affected by recent threats, that concrete steps are being taken to enhance safety and restore calm in rural areas.
Officials at the training centre noted that the recruits have shown steady progress since the programme began, adding that the hands-on sessions are preparing them for field operations once they are deployed.
The AbdulRazaq-led administration maintains that it is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to stabilise the troubled parts of the state. So far, over 700 forest guards have been recruited, trained in basic military tactics, and are now working alongside security agencies to strengthen surveillance and combat security challenges.
While the military continues to clear the ungoverned forests, the forest guards will complement their efforts by ensuring that the reclaimed areas remain unsafe for criminal elements. This coordinated approach is aimed particularly at preventing bandits and kidnappers from returning to hideouts previously used to launch attacks on innocent residents.