By Isaac Olamikan
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on has harped on the need for increased collaboration between the government and the Nigerian Air Force to enhance security across Edo communities and protect residents.
The governor made the call when he received the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, at the Government House, Benin City The Trumpet gathered.
Obaseki, who called for the support of the military to rid Edo forests of kidnappers and other criminal elements, urged for increased air surveillance to nip all criminal activities, including banditry, kidnapping and illegal wood logging, among others in the bud.
According to him, “Edo enjoys a special relationship with the Air Force. It’s unfortunate that because of restructuring, after the civilwar, your presence had to be reduced. We really want you to do as muchas you can to expand your services here.
“With your little operational service here, we know what we have benefitted and enjoyed from the Command here, particularly what they did for us during the #EndSARS protest”
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“He continued “ From the waterways, people are going into the forestlogging illegally, arming themselves and coming to set up businesses in our forests. We have worked with the army in some operations to curtail the activities of some armed men who disguise themselves as herdsmen in some of the locations in Edo. I will appreciate it if you join in such an operation to give us cover.
Reassuring the Air Force of government’s support, Obaseki noted, “We know you have a few schools. We will like to collaborate with you in supporting your primary schools, particularly the basics. In the area of medicals too, we will like to see how we can cooperate with your medical services to be part of our Edo Health Improvement (EdoHIP) programme, which we are integrating currently.”
The governor further said: “We are aware of the encroachment into your land. I have been talking with the Inspector General of Police and we now have a special team; we are appealing to you to provide support for that team. Some of these lawless individuals in these communities are so armed; they go in and grab other people’s land.
“He said that a special court for land grabbers has been set up by the government and provided a law to protect private properties.
Earlier, Amao commended the governor’s commitment to security and education, particularly the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST).
