NFSS Seeks Collaborations with Southeast Governors to Fight Forest Crimes
Group picture of participants at NFSS nationwide sensitization visit to all its zonal commands, held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu
The Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) has stated that collaborations and partnerships with governors of Southeast states will significantly aid in combating forest crimes, thereby fostering grassroots transformation and rural development in the region.
Commander-General of the NFSS, Dr. Joshua Wole Osatimehin, made this statement during the closing session of the NFSS nationwide sensitization visit to all its zonal commands, held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
Dr. Osatimehin explained that the organization aims to complement the efforts of its parent agencies by providing actionable intelligence from the forests.
This initiative is intended to eradicate crimes and criminal activities within the nation’s forested regions, ensuring sustainable grassroots development.
He further stated that the visit to Enugu was to inform Southeast authorities about the work the NFSS has been doing over the past nine years.
Established in 2016, the NFSS began as a community-based hunter association operating across all 36 states of Nigeria and the 774 local government areas, with the mandate to secure the nation’s forests.
Dr. Osatimehin expressed the NFSS’s gratitude in advance for any logistical support from Southeast state governments, particularly appealing to the Enugu State Government to integrate NFSS operatives into the state’s internal security architecture.
He underscored that the NFSS supports the Police and other constituted authorities by providing actionable intelligence, which is essential to significantly reduce crimes. Highlighting that the Southeast region comprises 95 local government areas, he stressed the importance of the NFSS in ensuring efficiency and effective service delivery, reaffirming their strong commitment to eradicating forest crimes.
Dr. Osatimehin also noted that the NFSS has an in-depth understanding of forest linkages across Nigeria and that its operatives are well trained to gather valuable intelligence for law enforcement agencies. He added that Nigeria has about 1,129 forest reserves, 29 forest game reserves, and 17 national parks located within forest terrains, emphasizing that the NFSS is dedicated to supporting the efforts of constituted authorities in securing these areas.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commander-General (Intelligence Department) of the NFSS, Dr. John Metchie, appealed to the Enugu State Government to recruit and incorporate NFSS operatives into the state’s internal security framework. He highlighted that the NFSS has the structure and manpower to play a complementary role in securing the lives and properties of citizens.
Dr. Metchie emphasized that the officers and men of the NFSS are law-abiding and thoroughly trained by parent agencies to diligently perform their duties, especially in combating criminals who encroach on farmlands and threaten the nation’s forests.
He further noted that NFSS operatives possess both natural efficacy and local knowledge that can be applied effectively to curb criminal activities within forested areas.
Dr. Metchie assured Nigerians that once the bill establishing the NFSS receives presidential assent and the service is fully mobilized, they will significantly reduce crimes and criminality in forested regions, rescuing these areas from kidnappers, bandits, and other malicious elements.
According to the Deputy Commander-General (Intelligence), the Southeast region has 95 local government areas, with Enugu State accounting for 17 council areas. He stated that the NFSS has studied forest linkages throughout the Southeast, understanding the interconnectivity of criminal operations, and will leverage their local terrain knowledge and scientific skills to ensure forest-related crimes become a thing of the past both in the region and nationwide.
In his remarks, the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, represented by ACP Oliver Odimega (Operations), affirmed that the NFSS is a permanent and vital partner in the nation’s security architecture. The Police Commissioner expressed deep concern that the nation’s forests have become sources of fear for citizens.
He noted that many criminal activities carried out in cities and towns are orchestrated from forest hideouts. Therefore, he emphasized that securing the forests effectively is crucial to securing the nation as a whole.
The Commissioner reminded NFSS personnel that their role is critical and underscored the importance of collaboration and synergy between security agencies, stating that such cooperation cannot be overemphasized.
