Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has employed 1,500 members of the State Security, Vigilante and Hunter Network (ESSVN) to protect lives and properties in the state.
The vigilantes and hunters completed a 10-day intelligence gathering training at the Ogida Police Training School, Egor LGA, on Thursday.
Speaking at the passing-out parade on Thursday, Obaseki remarked that the training of ESSVN operatives would strengthen efforts to boost intelligence gathering and community policing in the state.
The governor stressed his administration’s commitment to building the capacity of all security personnel who are at the forefront of combating crimes in Edo.
He said “Today marks a major milestone in our renewed efforts to strengthen the security structure in Edo state to protect lives and properties as we graduate another batch, making it about 2,037 trainees. The first set was 537, and now another 1,500.
“As a government, we are aware of the roles security plays in our socio-economic growth and development.
“We understand the need to collaborate with other agencies, particularly with the federal government. That is why we have put in resources to upgrade facilities in the Police Training School.”
Obaseki commended the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies for collaborating with his administration to design training programmes for the vigilantes and hunters.
He added: “We believe that it is when citizens are empowered to take ownership of their safety and become an integral part and partners in preventing and addressing the security concerns in their communities; that is when there would be guaranteed security.”
In his response, the Police commissioner Mohammed Dankwara saiC the force took the training seriously as it would help combat crimes.
The commandant of the Police Training School, Benin, ACP Joseph Esegine, said about 1,500 personnel of the EESSVN Batch B from 12 local government areas of Edo South and Edo Central senatorial districts passed out from the school after 10 days of intensive training.
