Beef up security surveillance at forest reserves— Sanjo Adedoyin appeals to Makinde 

…Calls for recruitment of Forest Guards, Foresters and Forest Rangers

The Oyo State House of Assembly has urged the state government to strengthen security around the state forest reserves to prevent influx of syndicates and other criminal elements. 

The appeal followed a motion on the need for the Executive arm of government to take a proactive steps to beef up security surveillance at forest reserves through recruitment of more forest guards to prevent influx of Boko haram, syndicates and other criminal elements which was sponsored by Hon. A.O Ogunsola (Iwajowa) and Co-sponsored by Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin as well as three other lawmakers. 

The motion, which sought the urgent recruitment of Forest Guards, Foresters and Forest Rangers through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Reasources was aimed at providing security within Forest Reserves and also to protecting communities from banditry and “Boko Haram” incursion.

Adedoyin, who is representing Ogbomoso South Constituency, said that criminal elements over the years have threatened the security architecture of Oyo state, citing several reported cases of apprehension of kidnappers, bandits and some Boko-haram elements by security agencies in collaboration with local hunters in some of the forest reserves in the state. 

He stated that forest guards reside in the village or labour camp closest to their beat and that they are supposed to swiftly report any criminal activity to higher authorities for expedited action. 

The lawmaker lauded Governor Makinde for taking proactive measures to address security concerns in the state, but urged the Oyo government to hire more forest guards and allied personnel, such as foresters and forest rangers, to adequately staff the state’s nine (9) forest reserves. 

The House however directed the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to immediately kick start the process leading in the recruitment of Forest Guards, Foresters and Forest Rangers in view of their importance to providing security within Forest Reserves and also to protecting Oyo communities from banditry and “Boko Haram” incursion.