The Deputy Commander-General (Intelligence), Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), Dr John Metchie, has said the organisation has capacity to plug the gap in Nigeria’s security architecture.
Metchie stated this at the end of the training of Intelligence, Surveillance and Provost personnel of the NFSS on Saturday, May 10, 2025, in Abuja.
He said that intelligence was the bedrock and the heart of security, adding that the forest guards possess credible and actionable intelligence that could help tackle insecurity in the forested regions.
“I keep saying that we are the missing link and I stand by that belief that forest guards are the missing link of the security architecture of Nigeria.
“I want to also take this opportunity to thank Mr President for his role in all this.
“This is because when Mr. President came into power, he promised the Nigerian people that he was going to do something about security.
“Now the bill is on his table and Nigerians are watching and we are begging him to please do the needful and sign the bill immediately, so that we can assist the existing security agencies,” he said.
Metchie commended the Commander-General of NFSS, Dr Joshua Osatimehin, for providing the needed strategic leadership in ensuring that the service gets legal backing.
He also commended him for the training of Intelligence, surveillance and Provost officers to position them to deliver on the mandate of NFSS.
According to him, with the training they have received, they will go back home and will be more effective and ready to serve their motherland.
Dr Stephen Okwori, a Security, Safety and Crime Management Consultant, said that crime was normal and inevitable in any society, adding that the duty of the government and security agencies is to see that crime is reduced.
Okwori said that if the President gives assent to the NFSS Bill, it would enhance security and intelligence gathering in the local communities where most of the violent crimes are perpetrated.
He added that inadequate security presence in rural areas across the country, coupled with the vast nature of the forested areas had contributed to the heightened insecurity in the country.
“So when the bill establishing the NFSS is assented to, they (service) will now cover that gap and complement the effort or support the conventional security services that we have in the area of intelligence gathering.
“I will tell you that most of the failures of intelligence with our conventional security service is because there is no local intelligence security service to cover that gap in the area of generating local intelligence for the military and other securities agencies to work with,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have declared support for the operations of the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS).
The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ajao Adewale, said that fighting insecurity was a job that required collaboration and without exclusive monopoly by any single security agency.
Adewale said the training would foster collaboration to effectively police the nation’s forest area through intelligence, adding that intelligence was the life-fire of security operations.
He said that the FCT in particular was surrounded by mountainous forest areas, adding migrants from other states takes advantage of the open space in the abandoned area to perpetrate criminal activities.
“For you coming up with the idea shows that you are really prepared to maintain and escalate your standard of operation.
“We commend and appreciate this initiative. Complimenting ethical leadership is the strategic power of intelligent police.
“By leveraging data, critical analysis and evidence-based practices, we can take our community to a greater height in terms of security and safety.
“By collaborating and working with your organisation, we have seen that we can always extend our outreach and Nigeria will continue to be safe and secure,” he said.
The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, commended the service for equipping its personnel with requisite knowledge in intelligence gathering and conflict management.
Marwa, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Operations and Investigation, NDLEA, Kayode Raji, pledged to continue to collaborate with NFSS in the area of intelligence to fight crimes in the country.
He said that the agency would continue to partner with NFSS, urging the personnel to liaise with NDLEA officers in their various commands to ensure effective synergy in tackling crimes as it relates to drug.
He emphasised that no single individual organisations can fight crime alone, saying that security was always a network to avoid skirmishes between the security agencies.
Also, the Commandant of NSCDC, FCT Command, Olusola Odumosun, commended the NFSS for their doggedness and commitment to national security.
He said that NSCDC had continued to partner the forest security operatives in the territory to ensure safety of lives and property.
The Commander-General of NFSS, Dr Joshua Osatimehin, stated that the just concluded training involved three departments which include intelligence, surveillance and provost.
He said the officers were brought together to further strategise to be able to collaborate effectively with the relevant security agencies to curb criminality within the forested region.
According to him, there is a need to strengthen the Department of Intelligence for policing, driving security.
“So with this, I believe we have achieved a lot from different experts that have come across the security organization.
“The Department of States Services (DSS) was there, the military, the police, have all come to offer their parenting experience to our officers and I believe we are graduating stronger, more confident and more strategic,” he said.
Osatimehim urged NFSS personnel to continue to support all agencies to rid the nation of crimes and criminality.
By Sumaila Ogbaje