Owolabi Adebayo, one of the forest guards involved in the operation that eliminated suspected bandits and rescued nine kidnapped victims in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, has appealed for improved weapons and operational equipment to strengthen the fight against banditry.
Speaking during an interview with Arise TV, Adebayo said the armed groups they confront are equipped with rifles and other sophisticated firearms that are superior to the weapons available to the forest guards.
He explained that the security outfit requires additional protective and surveillance equipment, including body armour, binoculars, night-vision goggles, walkie-talkies, and a larger supply of ammunition to improve their effectiveness during operations.
According to Adebayo, “Sir we are facing a lot of challenges because those people we are talking about, what they are carrying supercedes what is in our hand, especially rifle. There is no type of firearm that they don’t have. We need more equipment such as body armor, binoculars, night vision goggles, walkie-talkie. We also need plenty ammunition to engage them.”