The Edo State Government has announced the recruitment of 500 forest guards to protect the state's forests and farmlands from kidnappers and bandits. An additional 500 personnel will be added soon, following a directive from the National Security Adviser to President Bola Tinubu.
Recruitment Details
Commissioner for Public Security and Safety, Festus Ebea, disclosed this during a joint press briefing in Benin with the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, and the Commissioner for Transportation, Saturday Uwuilekhue. Ebea stated that the 1,000 forest guard offices will be located in Edo forests, with special attention to forests bordering Kogi, Ondo, and Delta states, as well as areas in Etsako and Akoko-Edo where mineral resources are abundant.
Strategic Deployment
Ebea explained: “These guard offices will be in the bushes of Edo State. Based on the area, special attention is given to neighboring communities where we have influx and attacks from bushes of neighboring states like Kogi and Ondo. We are also focusing on Akoko-Edo for its mineral deposits, Etsako East and West for the Igbera camp, and the two Ovia areas where people use waterways to infiltrate and take residents hostage. Every part of the state will be covered.”
He added: “On Saturday, I received a call from the presidency directing Edo to increase the number from 500 to 1,000, and we are implementing that soon.”
Addressing Criticism
Commissioner Afegbua responded to criticism about the concentration of projects in the governor’s hometown. He said: “That axis, being close to Delta State and having large uninhabited land, experienced rampant kidnapping. We needed to generate activity, which is why we placed a barrack there, along with a school of nursing and health technology. Once activities take off, kidnapping will become a thing of the past, and we are already achieving results.”
Transportation Boost
Commissioner Uwuilekhue announced that the state government has procured an additional 50 buses for the New Edo Line, complementing the existing 100 buses to improve inter-state mobility for residents.
