Nigeria, Dec. 25 -- Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has visited the first batch of newly recruited forest guard trainees in the state, as authorities intensify efforts to secure vast forestlands and curb criminal activities linked to banditry, kidnapping and illegal logging.

The trainees, drawn from all 25 local government areas of the state, are undergoing training as part of a broader security initiative aimed at strengthening local surveillance and protecting rural communities that border forest corridors often exploited by criminal groups.

During the visit, Mr Bago interacted with the trainees and commended them for volunteering to serve the state at a critical time.

He urged the forest guard trainees to remain disciplined, re...