Enugu State has taken a proactive step in addressing insecurity by employing 2,600 youths as forest guards. The move is aimed at fortifying efforts to combat criminal activities within the state.
Mr. Jude Okpor, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, revealed this development during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abakaliki.
These newly recruited individuals will be integrated into the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service, bolstering the state’s security apparatus.
Okpor emphasized the significance of this initiative, stating, “The recruitment of 2,600 individuals, with 200 persons allocated per Local Government Area across our 13 LGAs, underscores our commitment to tackling security challenges arising from criminal activities within our forests.”
He further elaborated on the rationale behind the recruitment drive, highlighting the need to purge forests of criminal elements who exploit these areas to launch attacks on innocent civilians.
Furthermore, Okpor noted that this action aligns with recent discussions held between President Bola Tinubu and state governors concerning strategies to address insecurity nationwide. He emphasized that the forestry security outfit constitutes a crucial component of the state’s policing efforts, as outlined during the aforementioned meeting.