Ebonyi govt employs 2,600 youth as forest guards to tackle insecurity

The Ebonyi State government has enlisted 2,600 young individuals as forest guards to bolster the ongoing efforts against insecurity within the state.

Revealing this development in an interview with journalists in Abakaliki on Monday, Mr. Jude Okpor, the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, explained that the recruits would be working under the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS).

Okpor clarified, “The 2,600 individuals selected in the state equate to 200 individuals per Local Government Area (LGA), and we have 13 LGAs in Ebonyi. The initiative aims to address the security challenges emanating from criminal activities in the forests.”

He emphasized the link between the recruitment and a recent meeting where President Bola Tinubu engaged with state governors on security matters. Okpor stated, “The forestry security outfit is a component of the state police, a topic discussed during the meeting.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Larry Igwe, the state Commander of the NHFSS, expressed appreciation for the recruitment, noting that it would strengthen their ability to combat criminal elements hiding in the forests. He highlighted the governor’s endorsement as a testament to their capability to complement the efforts of the Police, Army, and other related agencies in addressing insecurity.