By Monday Ijeh
The Commander-General (C-G), Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS), Mr Joshua Adewole has called for the adoption of NFSS as National Armed Forest Guard being proposed by the Federal Government.
The C-G made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at the 4th Annual Security Summit of NFSS.
He said the call was in alignment with the pronouncement of President Bola Tinubu on May 15 for the establishment of the National Armed Forest Guard to secure Nigeria’s 1,129 forests.
Adewole said NFSS, with over 50,000 trained personnel over the years with structures and tentacles within communities could fill in the gap to protect the nation’s forest from criminal activities.
He said NFSS had the capacity, training and experience as a result of its collaboration with other security agencies to be adopted as National Armed Forest Guard.
The C-G said the mandate of NFSS was to prevent and deter crime and illegal activities in Nigeria forest, partner with the police and other security agencies by providing relevant information on crimes and criminality within the forest.
“We are the ones that know the terrain, we are not saying there should be no additional equipment to enhance our operations.
“We are appealing to the Federal Government to make NFSS the nucleus of this proposed agenda,” he said.
He said NFSS started as a community-based hunter association in 2016 and had played a very key role in combating insecurity in Nigeria’s forest.
Adewole said NFSS was a voluntary security organisation, registered with the Corporate Affair Commission.
He said the service had over the years played a very significant role in fighting insecurity as a voluntary organization.
Adewole said the formation of NFSS followed the realisation that greater part of Nigerian forests were ungoverned, making them hideouts for criminal elements.
“NFSS carefully identified this gap and took up the responsibility of safeguarding the country’s forests, wildlife and their natural resources.
“It has gradually evolved into a broader security outfit addressing some of the nation’s most pressing security challenges such as insurgency, banditry and kidnapping,” he said.
In his remark, the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Kayode Egbetokun expressed dismay that the nation’s forests, rich in biodiversity, natural resources and economic potentials had turned to battlegrounds against banditry, kidnapping and illegal mining.
The I-G, represented by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the FCT, Mr Ajao Adewale, said forest security was not a regional concern, but a national priority, demanding a strategic and coordinated approach.
He said deep knowledge of forests, savannahs, and other natural terrains by hunters, as well as their familiarity with the local environments, help to detect unusual activities in communities.
The I-G called on NFSS to strengthen collaboration with local communities to improve intelligence gathering and ensure swift response to security breaches.
According to him, security cannot exist in isolation hence the need to enhance coordination with the police, military and local vigilante groups for rapid intervention strategies.
He urged the service to establish a joint security command unit, dedicated to forest operations to streamline intelligence sharing and tactical execution. (NAN)
