The Nigerian Army has trained 925 forest guards from Borno State in military acclimatisation tactics to prepare them to provide auxiliary support to troops combating terrorism and insurgency in the North-East.
The two-week training was conducted at the North-East Theatre Training School, Buni Yadi, Yobe State. Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, Maj.-Gen. Ibikunle Ajose, said the exercise was not intended to turn the guards into soldiers but to equip them with skills that would enable them to operate effectively alongside military personnel.
The trainees received instruction in weapon handling, aiming and firing, ambush tactics, cordon and search operations, Improvised Explosive Device awareness, self-defence and unarmed combat. They also underwent battle inoculation exercises designed to familiarise them with realistic combat conditions and improve their ability to operate in difficult terrain and adverse weather.
Borno Gov. Babagana Zulum said the forest guard initiative was established to mobilise local youths to complement the military’s counter-insurgency efforts. He said the latest batch was drawn from the state’s 27 local government areas and would be handed over to the Theatre Commander for deployment to areas of critical need, where their knowledge of local terrain, language and culture could support military operations.
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