We Are Better Positioned To Fight Insecurity – Forest Guards Boss

The Deputy Commander-General (Intelligence) of Nigerian Hunter and Forest Security Service (NHFSS), Dr. John Mecthie, has said men of the security outfit are better positioned to fight insecurity across the nation.

John Mecthie said men of NHFSS know every forest, creek and swamp across the country and are better positioned to fight banditry and kidnappings.

Metchie stated this in an interview with newsmen on Monday, in Abuja, while speaking on their demand for the transition of NHFSS into Nigeria Forest Guards Services (NFGS).

He said the activities of bandits and kidnappers are affecting the image of the country and scaring foreign investors away.

“Each time people are kidnapped and taken into the bushes, the nation continues to lose billions of naira and Foreign Direct Investments, FDI, due to bad image and negative reputation caused by insecurity,” he said.

He emphasized that most crimes take place in bushes across the nation. He explained that there is a gap in combating insecurity because of the bushes. He noted that men of NHFSS would fit the gap.

The Deputy Commander-General of NHFSS added that the security service is well structured. He called on the federal government to back the transition and empower the security service for better productivity.

“These are mostly in the forests, bushes, deserts, as well as in creeks, swampy areas, and other difficult terrains that are unmanned due to inadequate capacity. This is the capacity and gap we as Forest Guards want to fill.

“NHFSS has a well-structured Management, Administrative, and Operations network in line with modern security architecture for the best global national security operations and services in ungoverned, unmanned difficult terrains.

“The familiarity of the environment and penetration of our officers and men to the deepest hinterlands in forest and bushes, as well as creeks, deserts, and other ungoverned areas of the country are what Nigeria needs to rout out criminals from these areas.

“With requisite Federal backing and provision of necessary security gadgets, our men will further leverage on the familiarity of terrain, our large numerical strength, experience, and grassroots spread to man all territories, including the very difficult terrains,” News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted him.