By Sunday Ani, Lagos
The Deputy Commander General (DCG) of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Services (NHFSS), in charge of Technical Services, Ambassador John Metchie, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently give assent to the Nigerian Hunters and Forestry Security Service Bill passed by the National Assembly.
He maintained that signing the bill into law would empower hunters in the fight against kidnapping in the country.
He commended the police authorities for the rescue of 58 victims of banditry and kidnap in the FCT, Abuja Command, even as he insisted that the President should consider the bill as an urgent matter of national importance.
The FCT Command of the Nigeria Police had over the weekend, said it rescued 58 kidnap victims held hostage at Udulu Forest in Gegu Local Government Area of Kogi State, bordering Sardauna Forest in Nasarawa State and other identified kidnappers’ dens in communities contiguous to the territory
The FCT Police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, said the rescue was a joint operation with other security agencies, vigilantes and hunters from the various local communities.
Reacting to the development, Metchie said the primary responsibility of NHFSS is to curb crimes in the forests across the country.
Metchie, who is also the African Director, International Association of World Peace Advocates, said that in recent times, reports from the Police and other security agencies across the country indicate that hunters have become strategic partners in operations to rid the country of crimes, particularly those carried out inside and within the forests, especially by providing information and intelligence.
He said: “On behalf of the Commander General of the NHFSS, Dr Joshua Wole Osatimehin, I want to commend the Nigerian Police for the rescue of 58 victims of banditry and kidnap.
“Before their rescue, these citizens of Nigeria were held hostage for days, some months, at Udulu Forest in Gegu LGA of Kogi State, bordering Sardauna Forest in Nasarawa State and other identified kidnappers’ dens in communities contiguous to the Territory.
“From the statement given by the FCT Police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the rescue was carried out by the Police, in collaboration with other security operatives, as well as Hunters.
“It is, therefore, imperative that hunters have become integral and inseparable parts of Nigeria’s security system, especially in the areas of information and intelligence gathering. Hunters have also apprehended many criminals in various communities across the country and handed them over to the Police, Army and other security agencies while also contributing to foiling plans by bandits, terrorists and others in the forests and farms.
“We, therefore, use this opportunity, to once again, appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari, to as a matter of national importance, give assent to the Nigerian Hunters and Forestry Security Service Bill which has been passed by the chambers of the National Assembly.
“The call has become necessary in view of the fact that the current administration has but a few weeks to hand over to the next administration.
“Knowing that the primary responsibility of the NHFSS is to curb crimes and criminalities in Nigerian forests, the President’s assent to the Bill would empower officers and men of the NHFSS, and would further motivate them to occupy strategic positions in the forests and farms, and that way, make it difficult for those using the forests to carry out nefarious activities against the state and people of Nigeria.
“Apart from curbing banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other anti-people activities, signing the Bill into law, would enable the government to recruit thousands of young men and women as hunters and forest guards which would help to solve the issue of acute unemployment, one of the most serious challenges facing the nation.
“In conclusion, we wish to state that, one of the greatest legacies Mr President would leave behind as the father of the nation, is to sign the NHFSS Bill into law to boost the fight against insecurity.”