Recruitment: Ebonyi Hunters boss, Igwe speaks on alleged embezzlement of over N80m

Uchenna Okeh, Abakaliki

Ebonyi State commander of the Nigerian hunters and forest security service, NHFSS, Mr. Lary Igwe has denied the alleged embezzlement of over eighty nine million naira meant for the recruitment exercise of two thousand six hundred job seekers in the state.

Recall that the governor of Ebonyi State Francis Nwifuru had approved the recruitment two thousand six hundred persons into the hunter services, as away to fight against crime, such as kidnapping, banditry and other forms of criminal activities in the state, especially those that took place within the forest in the state.

The Nations News Nigeria reports that the governor, Francis Nwifuru released forty one million, nine hundred thousand naira for the purchase of forms and for other logistics in the ongoing recruitment exercise in the state.

A reliable source who spoke to newsmen unanimity in Abakaliki capital of Ebonyi State, alleged that apart from the said sum released by the governor, Francis Nwifuru to the commander to take care of the recruitment exercise and purchase of forms, but Igwe went ahead and collected another fifteen thousand naira each from the 2600 persons, amounting to 39 million naira.

It was gathered that the commander, Igwe also collected another fourteen thousand five hundred naira each from another six hundred persons, totaling about eight million seven hundred thousand.

Investigation revealed that the state commander, Igwe has gapped a total of eight nine million naira, that is currently domicile in his first Bank and FCMB personal account.

it was further gathered that the commander, Igwe has been allegedly extorting money from old members in the name of giving them ranks.

The source, equally accused the commander, Igwe of using part of the money to build houses and bought a Camry car for himself, and called on the state government and security agencies to arrest Igwe and prosecute him for indulging in fraudulent activities.

In swift reaction, the commander, Igwe denied the allegations, saying that his accusers are jobless people, who approached him to lend them money from the money released for the recruitment exercise by the governor Francis Nwifuru, but he refused, and they decided to be going about writing petitions against him in other to tarnish his hard earned image.

He said that he used the money to procured the forms from the national secretariat of NFSSS, “I was on 8th February 2024, by His Grace, the governor Francis Nwifuru approved the request I made to help improve our numerical strength like other states.

“We are not up to four hundred members, we cried to the governor, Francis Nwifuru to help us recruit and get forms for people to cue into the recruitment exercise. He paid for 2600 forms for new members and additional 299 for old members who have not paid for the forms.

“The money was released, which is N41 million. The money was paid to our state account, and later disbursed as directed. You know in the paramilitary, you must obey the last order. This money was meant for procurement of forms, apart from that, there are other things involved to give you the expected result.

“I did not collect any money for forms, because governor has already paid for it. The money they are alleging is N15,300 for medical fitness.

Igwe revealed that he was summoned by the department of state security, DSS, and the police, and has narrated to them the true situation of things in the recruitment exercise of the Nigerian hunters and forest security service, NHFSS, in Ebonyi state.