COAS Charges 924 Borno Forest Guards on Combating Criminal Activities
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has graduated 924 members of the Borno State Forest Guards after they successfully completed specialised training at the Nigerian Army Training Centre, Miango.
The graduation ceremony, held on Saturday, September 5, 2026, was aimed at equipping the forest guards with the skills required to protect forest reserves, safeguard surrounding communities and contribute to the preservation of Nigeria’s natural resources.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief of Training (Army), Major General Valentine Okoro, described forests as critical environmental assets that sustain biodiversity and support the livelihoods of communities.
Okoro said their protection had become increasingly important amid security challenges in some forested areas, where criminal elements have exploited difficult-to-access terrain.
He said the training was designed to enhance the trainees’ knowledge, practical skills, physical endurance, discipline and weapon-handling proficiency, preparing them to serve as a community’s first line of defence while performing other auxiliary responsibilities assigned to them.
Giving an overview of the exercise, the Training Team Leader, Colonel RO Alieze, said the trainees were documented and organised into companies upon arrival to ensure effective administration, accountability and coordination.
He said particular emphasis was placed on discipline and physical fitness, while the trainees were subjected to exercises designed to test their endurance, sharpen their tactical awareness and strengthen their capacity to perform their duties effectively.
According to him, language differences initially posed a communication challenge during the training, but instructors overcame the difficulty through interpretation, demonstrations and practical exercises.
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Delivering the COAS’s address, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander, Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General Maxwell Dangana, stressed the strategic importance of forests to national security, environmental sustainability and community livelihoods.
Dangana said forests were vital national assets and ecosystems that support biodiversity, protect the environment and contribute significantly to the well-being of surrounding communities.
He, however, noted that some forested areas had increasingly been exploited by criminals, including hoodlums, bandits and terrorists, as hideouts and operational bases from which they threaten citizens and communities.
The COAS consequently charged the newly graduated forest guards to remain vigilant and take responsibility for protecting the forests against illegal activities.
“As forest guards, you are at the frontline of forest protection and conservation. You will be expected to prevent and report illegal activities such as unauthorised entry, illegal logging, poaching, bush burning and other forms of environmental degradation,” Shaibu said.
He also tasked the guards with maintaining constructive engagement with local communities, educating residents on forest conservation and promoting the responsible utilisation of natural resources.
The Army Chief urged the graduates to uphold professionalism and respect for the law in the discharge of their duties, stressing the need for firmness in law enforcement without compromising the rights and dignity of citizens.
He further urged them to wear their uniforms with pride and serve with honour and humility, while allowing integrity, discipline, courage and patriotism to guide their conduct.
The graduation ceremony featured practical demonstrations by the trainees, including live-firing exercises and simulated ambush drills, showcasing some of the skills acquired during the training.
The event also featured the presentation of souvenirs and group photographs to commemorate the successful completion of the training.
By PRNigeria
