The Edo State Commissioner for Public Safety and Security, Festus Ebea, has alleged that some residents of the are bringing criminal elements from outside for kidnapping and other crimes.

The Commissioner made the allegations on Wednesday in Benin during the monthly briefing organised by the state’s Ministry for Information and Strategy.

He alleged that those individuals bring herdsmen to help them in cow rearing and, in the process, use them for kidnapping.

“From our security lenses, we have found out that some of our youths now keep herdsmen and the terrorists in their houses and point out to them where there is business to do,” he said.

According to him, some suspects who have been arrested by the security have confessed that they were brought into the state by some youths.

He said, “Both the accomplices and kidnappers have confessed to how they were brought in and housed.”

He said to tackle the insecurity, they have engaged 500 forest guards who are undergoing training to secure the forests across the state, adding that the Federal Government recently approved an additional 500. (Daily Trust, but headline rejigged)