Edo seeks collaboration on state surveillance as Air Force chief visits

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, yesterday, called for increased collaboration between the state government and the Nigerian Air Force to enhance security across Edo communities.

According to a statement by Special Assistant, Media, to the governor, Crusoe Osagie, the governor made the call when he received the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, who was on a courtesy visit to the Government House, Benin City.

Obaseki, who called for the support of the military to rid Edo forests of kidnappers and other criminal elements, urged increased air surveillance to nip all criminal activities, including banditry, kidnapping and illegal wood logging, among others in the bud.

He said: “Edo enjoys a special relationship with the Air Force. It’s unfortunate that because of restructuring, after the civil war, your presence had to be reduced. We really want you to do as much as 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. They did a lot of patrols and support. So, if we have our way, we will like to have more of your presence in our communities.

“I think it’s a thing to consider, given the security situation of the country. You know Edo is a hub and it’s easy to reach; some of the incidents like banditry and other criminal activities, we believe from our location here, can stop their movement and dispersal across the country.”

Assuring the Air Force of government’s support, Obaseki noted, “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.”

Earlier, Amao commended the governor’s commitment to security and education, particularly the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST).