Kaduna partnership crucial for tackling insecurity: National Security Adviser

Nigeria's National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has lauded the collaboration between the federal government and Kaduna State as "crucial" in the fight against insecurity. Speaking at the graduation of the first batch of Armed Forest Guards, Ribadu, represented by Sani Sani, Director of Internal Security at his office, declared Kaduna's training program the "best at the moment" nationwide.

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from the evaluation that we carried out across the country, the training in Kaduna State has been recorded as the best at the moment.

"The Office of the National Security Adviser will not have any doubt, to grant another request to Kaduna State, to continue this kind of training if the Governor wishes to do so," he stated, commending the rigorous training received by over 1,000 forest guards. This training covers weapons handling, physical fitness, community relations, and adherence to the rule of law.

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The Office of the National Security Adviser will not have any doubt, to grant another request to Kaduna State, to continue this kind of training if the Governor wishes to do so.

The initiative, launched by President Bola Tinubu on May 24, 2025, aims to train indigenous people to secure "ungoverned spaces," particularly forest belts, and protect biodiversity. The forest guards are expected to act as first responders, establishing community resilience against invading enemies before security agencies arrive.

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The beneficiaries of this training are expected to go back to their respective communities and establish a first line community resilience, to resist every invading enemy of the state as first responders, before the arrival of various security agencies.

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani expressed pride in the training's success and requested an additional 1,000 forest guards. He noted significant progress in security, with previously inaccessible local government areas now reachable without escorts. Frontline areas like Birnin Gwari, Giwa, and Kachia, once under siege, have seen improved security due to the collaboration with the federal government and President Tinubu's support.

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to commence training of indigenous people to protect our ungoverned spaces, particularly the forest belts, protect our biodiversity, water sheds and wild life.