Following the recent killing of eight vigilantes by bandits in Plateau State’s Kanam Local Government Area, renewed calls have emerged for President Tinubu to urgently formalise a dedicated forest security force before Nigeria’s forests fall entirely into criminal hands.
Commander General of the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), Joshua Osatime, in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, said that only the passage of the NFSS bill by President Bola Tinubu can empower the service to operate effectively across the country.
“The forests are no longer safe, Bandits and criminal groups have taken over,” Osatime warned. “We know how these criminals move and how they can be neutralised within the forests if we are empowered.”
Although the NFSS currently operates in 14 states with over 40,000 members, Osatime noted that the lack of legal backing has left the agency vulnerable and under-resourced. “We lost two of our members during a joint operation in Kaduna. The military was compensated, but for our men, we had to contribute ₦1,000 each from our pockets to support the families.”
He explained that the NFSS, founded in 2016 works in collaboration with the police, military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Office of the National Security Adviser. Asserting that they operate in all 774 local government areas and have provided intelligence and support in critical zones, including Sambisa Forest and border areas linking Niger and Cameroon.
Osatime emphasised the distinction between NFSS and other environmental agencies. “The National Park Service is focused on protecting endangered species and the ecosystem. Our job is intelligence gathering, surveillance, and security operations within forested regions,” he clarified.
He expressed frustration at the delay in the NFSS bill, which has already passed both chambers of the National Assembly. “If the president signs the bill today, we will have the confidence and tools to do more and reclaim our forests from criminal elements.”
He also called attention to the post-Gaddafi security crisis in the Sahel, which has contributed to rising insecurity across West Africa. “Those fighters from Libya didn’t just disappear. They’re now infiltrating our forests. Nigeria must be proactive,” he said.
Osatime concluded with a direct appeal to the federal government: “What we’re proposing is cost-effective. Give us recognition, give us the tools motorcycles, radios, surveillance equipment and we will deliver results.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
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