Amb John Metchie, the Deputy Commander General of the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), on Wednesday urged Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, to empower guards of the service to protect the people.
Metchie made the call while reacting to the recent killing of over 50 people in Plateau in Abuja.
The commander said he was touched by the unfortunate incident, being an indigene of Plateau by circumstances of his birth in Jos and marriage to a woman from there.
He said the call was made in behalf of the Commander General of the Service, Dr Joshua Osatimehin.
While expressing his heartfelt sympathy to the governor and the people of the state, Metchie said the Abuja headquarters of NFSS, had already established a command in Plateau.
He urged the state government to recruit young people, provide them operational vehicles and other tools to safeguard the forests, working with the military, police and other security and intelligence agencies.
According to him, Plateau is one of the states with the most forested areas in the country.
“The governor should deploy forest security operatives to guard borders and other strategic parts, as a way of deterring criminal elements from infiltration.
“Nigeria, with huge population of over 215 million, cannot be left in the hands of already established security agencies alone,” he said.
Metchie, who is also the African Director, International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA), said that states like Kogi and Bauchi, among others, have embraced the services of NFSS.
He said that successes were being recorded in securing the states.
“We are aware that Plateau is one of the most forested states in the country, which makes it easy prey for criminals to infiltrate and operate in the state from the forests.
“Knowing that the primary assignment of NFSS is to curb crimes and criminalities, especially those that are committed within the forested regions, we believe that the NFSS will in no small way, assist security agencies to fight insecurity in Plateau through intelligence gathering and sharing as well as combat engagement against undesirable elements.
“Already, the NFSS has a well-established and functional command structure in Plateau.
”What is needed is for the government to recruit hundreds of young people from across the communities, empower them with operational vehicles and other necessary tools to guard and protect their people.
“One of the advantages of making use of NFSS, is that operatives are recruited from locals to guard and protect their communities and relatives.
“With the special training NFSS operatives undergo, we are well equipped to understand the terrains more than strangers and therefore in a better position to record successes in our responsibilities.
“I therefore call on my good friend and brother, the Governor, to approach the headquarters of NFSS to discuss and agree on the best way to go about making peace in return to Plateau again,” he stated.
The NFSS boss also called on President Bola Tinubu, to sign the NFSS Bill which, according to him, was recently passed by the senate, saying it would help to strengthen security across the country. (NAN)
