Enugu engages 1,700 forest guards to fight insecurity

Following the disturbing insecurity situation in Enugu, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi-led government of the state has commenced recruitment of forest guards.

It was learnt that Ugwuanyi, at a Wednesday meeting with the state’s lawmakers, its 17 local government council chairpersons, and security heads in the state, agreed to engage 1,700 persons for the job.

Already, 879 persons had been screened and engaged for the job while another 821 applicants, who will make up the number, are expected to be screened and engaged as quickly as possible.

It was also learnt that the governor at the Wednesday meeting approved the purchase of 260 security vehicles, one for each of the 260 wards for the job.  There will also be 260 motorcycles made available for all the wards while communication gadgets will also be provided.

The governors of the South-East had recently resolved to engage the services of forest guards to curb the increasing level of attacks by suspected herdsmen and other criminal elements in the region.

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Enugu appears to be the worst hit among the five states of the South-East. The state recently witnessed brutal killings of a Catholic Church Priest, and a pregnant woman.

When it eventually called for applications for the job to locally secure the state, no less than 3,963 persons were said to have applied.

Out of that number, 2,646 were shortlisted and screened. While 879 persons had been engaged, another 821 persons will join the team  within two weeks, it was learnt.

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