President Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards for Katsina State as part of efforts to strengthen security operations and address the persistent insecurity affecting 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 forest guards will be trained and equipped to complement the operations of the military, police, Department of State Services (DSS) and local vigilante groups in securing communities, particularly those located in forested and remote areas often used as hideouts by criminal gangs.
Radda explained that the initiative forms part of broader collaboration between the federal and state governments aimed at tackling banditry and other security threats in Katsina and neighbouring states.
Describing the approval as a major boost to ongoing security efforts, the governor expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for granting the state’s 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 the increased deployment of security personnel to Katsina, describing the collaboration as critical to restoring peace and stability.
The governor, however, stressed that security agencies alone cannot defeat banditry without the support of local communities, noting that criminal groups often depend on collaborators for intelligence, logistics and the sale of stolen livestock.
He therefore urged residents to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with credible information, insisting that lasting peace can only be achieved through collective action 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,” he added.
Francis Sardauna
