The Taraba state government has denied accusations that forest guards are missing from rural areas around the state, claiming that all staff recruited through the scheme have been adequately deployed.
Colonel Joshua Garbiya Kwelle (rtd), Special Adviser to Governor Agbu Kefas on Security and Intelligence Matters, denied the claims on Tuesday in Jalingo. He said the 750 forest guards recruited by the state government have undergone training and have been deployed across the 16 local government councils.
According to Kwelle, the forest guard programme, which began in 2025, was intended to secure forest corridors, gather intelligence, and prevent bandits and other criminal elements from using woods as operational bases.
He said that the operatives are stationed in key locations around the state, with offices set up in all local government areas to facilitate their activities.
The security consultant stated that, while forest guards are not assigned traditional community policing tasks, their actions play an important role in improving security for farming areas and rural inhabitants.
Addressing worries about the personnel’s welfare, Kwelle stated that plans are being taken to assure salary payment, stressing that the remuneration structure is currently being finalised pending the conclusion of federal government processes.
He praised Governor Kefas for his dedication to enhancing security in Taraba state via ongoing investment and support for security measures.
Kwelle also asked journalists, bloggers, and content creators to always verify material from trustworthy sources before publishing, saying that spreading misinformation could instill undue fear and concern among citizens.
He reminded locals that the forest guards are fully functioning and dedicated to helping efforts to defend communities across the state.