Kwara Governor Inspects Training of 2,600 Newly Recruited Forest Guards, Reaffirms Commitment to Securing Rural Communities

In a renewed push to strengthen security across Kwara State, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday paid an unscheduled visit to the training camp of the 2,600 newly recruited forest guards in Ilorin. The governor’s visit was aimed at evaluating the quality of training the recruits are receiving and at boosting morale as the state intensifies efforts to safeguard farmlands, forests, and rural settlements that have experienced security threats in recent months.

The atmosphere at the camp was energetic as the governor interacted with the trainees and their instructors. His presence, according to officials on ground, served as both motivation and validation of the administration’s growing investment in local security capacity. AbdulRazaq praised the trainees for their discipline, emphasising that their new role places them at the heart of community protection and the wider fight against criminal activities that exploit the state’s forest corridors.

State officials overseeing the programme highlighted the progress demonstrated since training commenced. The recruits, they said, are undergoing a rigorous, multifaceted security course that covers basic military tactics, field survival skills, intelligence gathering, inter-agency coordination, and emergency response. The objective is to produce forest guards capable of complementing the operations of the military, police, and other security agencies working to flush out armed groups hiding in the state’s forest reserves.

This latest batch of 2,600 recruits adds to the over 700 forest guards already deployed across different local government areas. Those previously trained are currently supporting federal security formations in surveillance and joint patrols, with a particular focus on preventing the return of bandits and kidnappers who once used vast ungoverned spaces as operational bases.

According to the AbdulRazaq administration, the broader strategy is not limited to deployment but also consolidation. As the military continues clearing operations in the forests—neutralising criminal elements and disrupting their networks—the forest guards are tasked with securing reclaimed areas to ensure they do not fall back into the hands of violent groups. This two-layered approach, the government believes, provides a more sustainable security framework, one that combines offensive action with community-level stabilization.

Residents in communities affected by recent threats have expressed cautious optimism about the initiative. For many, the large-scale recruitment signals a more aggressive and coordinated state-level response. The governor’s presence at the training ground is also seen as a reassurance that the administration is not leaving security matters solely to federal forces but is taking a participatory role in protecting lives and property.

Akeweje Olayinka Fafoluyi, Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor, stated that the recruitment and ongoing training demonstrate the government’s “no stone unturned” approach to restoring stability. He noted that strengthening the forest guard system is part of a broader security reform strategy aimed at making rural areas safer for residents, farmers, and economic activities.

As Kwara continues to confront evolving security challenges, the success of this initiative will depend on proper equipment, continuous training, community cooperation, and sustained government commitment. But with 2,600 more personnel poised to join the frontline, the state appears determined to reclaim its forests and protect its people more effectively than ever before.