OPHK Commander Charges 925 Forest Guards to Be Fearless Against Terrorists

The Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Major General Ibikunle Ajose, has charged 925 newly trained Borno State Forest Guards to be fearless, decisive and professional in supporting ongoing military operations against terrorists and other criminal elements.

Ajose gave the charge on Sunday at the graduation ceremony of the Forest Guards, following their two-week in-theatre acclimatisation training at the North East Theatre Training School (NETTS), Buni Yadi, Yobe State.

The Theatre Commander said the guards’ training and knowledge of the local terrain would complement ongoing military operations and strengthen counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency efforts across Borno State.

He urged the personnel to apply their newly acquired skills responsibly, remain disciplined and respect law-abiding citizens, while warning them against harassing civilians or engaging in rivalry with other security agencies.

Ajose told the graduates to remain focused on the common threat posed by terrorists and criminals, stressing the need for courage, decisiveness and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

The Special Guest of Honour, Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, represented by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman Tar, said the Forest Guard initiative was established to provide structured auxiliary support to the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

Tar disclosed that the 925 personnel, drawn from the 27 Local Government Areas of Borno State, would be handed over to the Theatre Command for deployment according to operational requirements.

He noted that the guards’ knowledge of local terrain, languages and culture would enhance their effectiveness as force multipliers in support of ongoing security operations.

Earlier, the Commandant of NETTS, Brigadier General Amadike Onaogu, said the two-week training was designed to build the confidence, resilience, discipline and adaptability required of the Forest Guards in their supporting role.

Onaogu stressed that the training was not intended to turn the personnel into soldiers but to equip them with relevant competencies to complement security operations within their areas of responsibility.

Ajose commended the Borno State Government for its sustained support to security operations in the state and appreciated the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for his continued guidance and support to OPHK and the training programme.

He also commended the NETTS Commandant and instructors for maintaining the required training standards, urging them to sustain the tempo.

The Theatre Commander reaffirmed OPHK’s commitment to sustaining operational pressure against terrorists and strengthening collaboration with relevant security stakeholders towards restoring lasting peace and normalcy across the North-East Theatre of Operations.