Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Kogi State Government has announced the official commissioning and deployment of 530 newly trained personnel of the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) as part of a sustained offensive to reclaim the state's vast forested areas from criminal elements and strengthen community-level security across all 21 local government areas. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo will preside over the passing-out parade of the forest guards on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at the Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre in Lokoja, in a ceremony that security officials have described as a major milestone in the administration's fight against insecurity.
According to a public announcement signed by the Kogi State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd), the event is scheduled to commence at 10:00 a.m. prompt. The deployment of the forest guards forms a key component of the state's broader security strategy, which is designed to improve surveillance, deny criminals access to safe havens, and strengthen the capacity of security agencies to respond effectively to threats across the state. The personnel have undergone intensive training to support existing law enforcement agencies, gather intelligence from difficult terrain, and reinforce the ongoing effort to reclaim forests from criminal use.
In a statement, Commander Omodara described the commissioning as "another milestone in the ongoing fight against insecurity in our dear state," adding that the deployment of the NFSS personnel marks "a new dawn for security in Kogi State and another demonstration of the Chief Servant's commitment to reclaiming our forests from criminals who have used them to perpetrate their nefarious acts". The trained forest guards are expected to work in synergy with other security agencies to secure forests, farmlands, highways, and rural communities across the 21 local government areas of the state.
The recruitment and training of forest guards have been a central pillar of Governor Ododo's security agenda since he assumed office. In June 2026, the governor visited the State Forest Guard Training Center in Lokoja, where he reassured the trainees of full government support and promised adequate security equipment and improved welfare packages to boost their morale. During that visit, he vowed to reclaim the state's forests from criminal elements, declaring that there would be no safe haven for terrorists, bandits, and other violent criminals in Kogi State. The governor had previously explained that the initiative was designed to strengthen surveillance, block criminals from using forests as hideouts, and improve the ability of security agencies to respond to threats.
The passing-out parade comes at a time when Kogi State, like many parts of Nigeria's North-Central region, has been grappling with a surge in banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes. Criminal groups have increasingly exploited the state's dense forested areas, which straddle major highways and border several states, to launch attacks, hold victims for ransom, and evade security forces. The deployment of the 530 forest guards is expected to significantly bolster the state's capacity to patrol these remote areas, gather actionable intelligence, and disrupt criminal networks operating from forest hideouts.
The ceremony will be performed by Governor Ododo, who has positioned himself as a chief servant of the state with a hands-on approach to governance and security. The Office of the State Security Adviser has described the event as another significant milestone in the administration's sustained campaign to protect residents and consolidate security gains. The government has invited members of the public, traditional rulers, community leaders, and other stakeholders to witness the ceremony, underscoring the importance of community partnership in the fight against insecurity.
The deployment of the forest guards also reflects a growing trend across Nigeria, where state governments are investing in community-based security structures to complement the efforts of federal security agencies. In a related development, Edo State recently inducted 497 forest guards to strengthen its own security operations. The Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) has been training and recruiting personnel nationwide to address the challenges facing Nigeria's forest zones, which have become hotspots for criminal hideouts and environmental degradation.
Governor Ododo's administration has consistently emphasised a proactive approach to security, focusing on prevention, local knowledge, and coordinated response. The governor had earlier warned that any house harbouring criminals would face demolition, as part of a zero-tolerance stance on criminal hideouts. The passing-out parade of the 530 forest guards represents a concrete step towards fulfilling those promises and delivering on the administration's security blueprint.
As the new forest guards prepare to take their oath of service and begin their deployment, the people of Kogi State are watching with cautious optimism. For communities that have endured years of attacks, kidnappings, and displacement, the deployment of the forest guards offers a glimmer of hope that the state's forests can be reclaimed from criminals and transformed into assets for economic development rather than sanctuaries for violence. The success of the initiative will depend on sustained political will, adequate funding, effective coordination with other security agencies, and the active support of local communities. But for now, the commissioning of 530 forest guards marks a significant step forward in Kogi State's long and difficult march towards lasting peace and security.
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