The Edo State Government will begin training newly recruited forest guards on Friday, June 5, 2026. The exercise aims to strengthen forest security and improve response to criminal activity.
The training will hold at the Police Training School, Ogida Barracks, Benin City. Recruits must report by 5:00 p.m. on the start date.
Commissioner for Public Safety and Security, Festus Ebea, confirmed that the state has already profiled all successful candidates. The Department of State Services (DSS) handled the profiling process.
The recruits also completed medical screening at Edo Specialist Hospital before selection.
The state will run the training for six weeks and officials say the programme will cover physical drills, intelligence gathering, and operational procedures.
Authorities also instructed recruits to come with all required documents and follow all training rules and protocols.
The recruitment follows rising security concerns linked to forest-based crimes in parts of the country. Authorities intensified the initiative after the reported abduction of 45 teachers and students in Oyo State.
The federal government also supports similar efforts which directly aligns with the recent announced plans to recruit 1,000 forest guards nationwide to improve forest surveillance and counter banditry.
The Edo State Government advised candidates to seek clarification from the Office of the Commissioner for Public Safety and Security where necessary. Officials said they will issue additional instructions during the training period.
