The Commander of the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), Dr. Joshua Osatimehin, has expressed confidence that banditry and related crimes can be significantly curtailed within three months if the Federal Government fully deploys trained forest guards across the country’s vast forests.
Osatimehin said Nigeria’s forests have become safe havens for bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements largely due to inadequate surveillance and enforcement. He maintained that the NFSS, if properly empowered and integrated into the national security architecture, possesses the manpower, local intelligence and terrain familiarity required to dislodge criminal networks operating in forested areas.
According to him, forest guards are strategically positioned to complement conventional security agencies by blocking escape routes, monitoring illegal movements and preventing criminals from regrouping in remote locations. He stressed that most bandit attacks originate from forest bases and that reclaiming these spaces would drastically weaken criminal operations nationwide.
Osatimehin further urged the government to accelerate the formal recognition, arming and coordination of forest guards with the military, police and other security agencies. He argued that without securing the forests, efforts to end banditry, kidnapping and rural violence would remain ineffective.
The NFSS commander reiterated that Nigeria already has the human resources to confront insecurity but requires decisive political will, proper funding and coordinated deployment to translate capacity into results
