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 operations against terrorists and other criminal elements in the North-East.
Ajose gave the charge on September 20, 2026, 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.
Addressing the graduates, the Theatre Commander said their knowledge of the local terrain, languages and communities would complement ongoing military operations and strengthen counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency efforts across Borno State.
He urged the Forest Guards to apply the skills acquired during the training responsibly, maintain discipline and respect law-abiding citizens, warning them against harassing civilians or engaging in rivalry with other security agencies.
Ajose told the personnel to remain focused on the common threat posed by terrorists and criminals, while demonstrating courage, professionalism and decisiveness 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 the state, would be handed over to the Theatre Command for deployment according to operational requirements.
He said their familiarity with the local terrain, languages and culture would make them effective force multipliers in support of 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 roles.
Onaogu clarified that the training was not intended to turn the personnel into soldiers, but to equip them with relevant competencies to complement ongoing security operations within their respective 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 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 maintaining operational pressure against terrorists while strengthening cooperation with relevant security stakeholders to restore lasting peace and normalcy across the theatre of operations.