Abuja: The Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) has urged the Federal Government to recognise forest security as a crucial component of the nation’s overall security framework. The Deputy Commander-General in charge of Intelligence in the NFSS, Dr John Metchie, made the call during a zonal training session for NFSS personnel in Jos.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, this call was contained in a statement made available on Sunday in Abuja. Metchie highlighted that the forest remains one of the most vulnerable and ungoverned spaces in Nigeria, yet it receives little attention in national security planning. He emphasized that forest security is often overlooked within Nigeria’s broader security ecosystem, pointing out that while conventional forces patrol urban areas and highways, vast forest regions remain largely unmonitored.
Metchie explained that the NFSS was established to address this gap by gathering intelligence within forests, monitoring movements, and collaborating with other security agencies to tackle crimes such as banditry, arms trafficking, illegal mining, and cross-border criminality. He noted that NFSS operatives, being indigenous to the areas, are more familiar with the terrain than conventional security forces and are embedded within communities, living and working in forests which enhances their effectiveness in intelligence gathering.
The training session is being held simultaneously in other states like Nasarawa, Benue, and across the South-East and North-East zones, aiming to deepen officers’ capacity in intelligence gathering and inter-agency coordination. According to Metchie, NFSS operatives are trained to gather, analyze, and share forest-based intelligence with relevant bodies such as the army, police, and immigration services. He described the NFSS as the “missing link” in Nigeria’s security framework, stressing that their role is complementary and not competitive with other security agencies.
Metchie commended President Bola Tinubu for his leadership and appealed to him to sign the pending Forest Security Bill, which would provide NFSS with full recognition and legislative support. He assured that the NFSS is prepared and that its personnel are trained, mobilized, and deployed, awaiting legal backing to function optimally as a national security asset.
In addition, David Mwahoss, Commander of Plateau State Command, reported that over 5,000 officers are currently active in local communities across the state. He acknowledged the sacrifices made by personnel, including those who have paid the ultimate price to ensure security in forests and rural communities. Mwahoss emphasized that with full government backing, NFSS can secure areas that conventional forces cannot easily access, leveraging the local knowledge of its officers to act swiftly on credible intelligence.
