Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo has launched a Forest Guard programme aimed at reclaiming the state's forests from criminal elements. He made the declaration during a visit to the training camp of newly recruited Forest Guards in Lokoja on Sunday. Ododo stated there will be no safe haven for terrorists, bandits and other violent criminals operating within the state, and pledged to deploy all lawful resources necessary to ensure public safety.
The governor described the trainees as a valuable addition to the state's security architecture and urged them to take their responsibilities seriously. He cited the vast and largely unguarded forest areas in parts of Kogi as a major security challenge, enabling criminal groups to launch attacks on citizens. The recruitment and training of the Forest Guards are part of a broader security strategy to strengthen surveillance, deny safe havens to criminals, and improve threat response.
Ododo noted the initiative is part of the Presidential Forest Guards Programme approved by President Bola Tinubu on May 15, which targets the country's 1,129 designated forests. The programme is being implemented through the Office of the National Security Adviser in collaboration with the Department of State Services and other security institutions. He commended Tinubu for empowering states to tackle security challenges and praised National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and DSS Director-General Adeola Ajayi for their support.
The DSS is overseeing the profiling and training of recruits to ensure professionalism and accountability. Ododo stressed that only individuals with proven character, integrity and loyalty would be entrusted with protecting lives and property. His visit to the training camp followed an inspection of the first batch of Armoured Personnel Carriers procured by the state government to boost security operations. He reaffirmed that security remains a top priority and pledged sustained investment in personnel, equipment and intelligence-driven operations.
Ahmed Ododo is deploying Forest Guards to secure Kogi's forests while praising federal officials for a programme his own administration is implementing. The governor's commendation of the DSS director-general for supporting security operations in Kogi suggests state reliance on federal agencies for basic security functions. This raises questions about the state government's capacity to independently manage threats within its jurisdiction. The presence of armored vehicles and a presidentially approved programme underscores a security burden now shared, not solely borne by Kogi.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion. All persons mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Full disclaimer →
