The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to collaborating with the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) in tackling insecurity across the country.
Egbetokun, represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations), Bzigu Kwazi, gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by the NFSS Commander-General, Dr. Wole Osatimehin, in Abuja. The Deputy Commander-General (Intelligence) of NFSS, Dr. John Metchie, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
Commending the NFSS for its dedication, Egbetokun noted that the forests across Nigeria have increasingly become safe havens for criminal elements, posing a significant security challenge. He stressed that the recent passage of the bill establishing the NFSS, awaiting presidential assent, would further empower the service to secure the nation’s forests effectively.
“There is no member of the National Assembly who is unaware that forests have become a major threat to our national security. NFSS coming in as a security agency is a welcome development,” Egbetokun said. “You have my full support, and that of my management team. We are ready to work with you as partners in safeguarding our country.”
Earlier, Dr. Osatimehin expressed appreciation to the Nigeria Police for its unwavering support since the establishment of the NFSS in 2016. He described the Police Force as the “parenting father” of NFSS, highlighting the training and mentorship provided by police training schools nationwide.
Osatimehin assured that once the NFSS becomes a fully-fledged agency, Nigeria’s forests would no longer serve as hideouts for terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers.
In his remarks, Dr. Metchie praised Osatimehin’s leadership for transforming the NFSS into a respected institution. He also lauded the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies for fostering strong collaboration with NFSS operatives.
Metchie added that intelligence shared by NFSS personnel had consistently been received with an open mind by police commissioners across the 36 states and the FCT, strengthening inter-agency trust and cooperation.
