The Edo State government has engaged 500 youths who are undergoing intensive security training at the Police Training College in Ogida Barracks, Egor local government area of Edo State.
The engagement and training has become necessary following the increased rate of kidnapping and banditry activities across the Country as the recruited 500 forest guards are to secure forests and farmlands against banditry and kidnapping.
Briefing journalists in Benin City on the efforts of the governor Monday Okpebholo led administration on securing the State, the commissioner for security and public safety, Festus Ebea commended the various security agencies in the State for the role played to keep the State safe.
He noted that following the directive of the Federal government for States to engage 1,000 forest guards, Edo State has employed 500 who have commenced training since Friday 5th of June 2026 at the Police Training College Ogida.
He added that the State will soon recruit an additional 500 to hit a 1,000-man target to secure forests bordering Kogi, Ondo, Delta and other neighboring states, as well as mineral-rich areas in Akoko-Edo and Etsako local government areas.
“Since Friday, following the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the office of National Security Adviser, we have engaged 500 able and intelligent Edo youths who are undergoing training at Police College.
“These youths when they are finished the training will be deployed to man our bushes and forest especially forest shared neighboring States where criminal activities are prevalent to make it safe. These actions will make the forest unsafe for bandits and kidnappers”.
Ebea added that the governor Monday Okpebholo led administration is working hard to ensure Edo is safe to live and do businesses as the government focused more on security collaborating with various security agencies in the State.
He disclosed that investigation has shown that insiders are collaborating with criminal elements in the State as some youths and their collaborators are in the police net helping them with the relevant information that will help track other criminal elements in the State.
“When I assumed office, the governor gave me a matching order to employ 300 security Corp members for each local government area in Edo State. In all 540 Edo State security corp members who will collaborate with sister security agencies to fight crime and criminality in the State. We are working towards ensuring a safer state for Edo people.
“No local government area in Edo State has less than 300 security Corp members. Logistics has been provided by the Okpebholo led administration to ensure these men discharge their duties effectively”.
Ebea disclosed that the Okpebholo led government is also fighting drugs and drugs related issues head-on as crime can’t be separated from drug abuse.
“Security challenges are linked to the influence of drugs. We are putting all efforts to arrest drug sellers and users. Investigation revealed that some professionals are also involved in the illicit trade but we are working with the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to check their activities in Edo State.
“We have embarked on raiding their hideout in the State as well as engaged in bush combing to flush out kidnappers and bandits from the State. This administration is doing a lot to secure the State and its people. We commend the commitment and collaboration between EDSG and various security agencies as the partnership is yielding positive results”, he concluded.
