Gombe forest guards begin specialized training in Osun state

A contingent of 700 forest guard recruits from Gombe State has arrived at the Mobile Police Training School in Osun State to begin an intensive training program.

The initiative is a key component of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s broader security strategy aimed at enhancing the protection of forest reserves and curbing criminal activities across Gombe State.

The recruits were selected following a rigorous screening process in Gombe, where they were vetted for their suitability for the specialized role.

The Gombe State Executive Council recently ratified the approval of N337 million to cover the training and logistical requirements for the guards, who are being prepared under a national security arrangement coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The training curriculum is designed to transform the recruits into a disciplined and operationally capable force. It focuses on equipping them with the technical skills necessary for field surveillance, intelligence gathering, and forest patrol operations.

By providing these guards with formal training in tactical fieldcraft and security protocols, the Gombe State government intends to bolster the existing security architecture and provide a more robust defense against banditry, kidnapping, and the illegal exploitation of natural resources within forested areas.

The deployment of these forest guards is expected to provide essential support to conventional security agencies by acting as first responders in remote and difficult-to-access terrains.

The state government remains committed to ensuring that the guards are adequately prepared to maintain law and order, ultimately safeguarding the livelihoods of communities living in and around the state’s forest reserves.