TheCable

The Edo government is providing training on how to handle weapons to over 1,500 vigilantes, in a bid to improve security in the state. 

The two-week training is also meant to increase their knowledge on intelligence gathering.

The people trained include hunters and personnel of the Edo state vigilante security network.

Kole Omomia, the coordinator of Edo state security network, disclosed the aims of the training at the Police Training College, Benin, this week.

Omomia said the trainees were drawn from Edo central and Edo south senatorial districts.

The first batch of training was put together for 574 operatives and hunters from Edo-north senatorial district, he disclosed.

“This is a two-week training programme aimed at training operatives and hunters in the Edo state security network. The 1,500 operatives/hunters drawn from Edo central and south senatorial districts will undergo intensive training,” he said.

He said that Godwin Obaseki, the state governor, had donated bikes for logistics to support the training.

“Edo is one of the best states in the country in terms of security. Governor Obaseki does not joke with it. He wants investors to come into the state to invest,” he said.

“If you watch, most of the newly-recruited hunters and vigilantes are not trained. We want to make sure they are well-trained.

“A lot of resource persons are going to come onboard to make sure they are physically fit and mentally balanced.

“They are also going to train them in weapons handling, patrols, stop-and-search, ambush and counter-terrorism.”