Hunters’ group seeks conversion to Forest Guard Service to combat insecurity

The Deputy Commander-General of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS), Ambassador Johnny Metchie, has proposed the conversion of the NHFSS into the Nigeria Forest Guard Services (NFGS).

Metchie argued in a statement on Monday that this move is crucial for safeguarding ungoverned territories and bolstering the nation’s economic development.

He also said that the conversion will be a powerful solution to kidnapping, banditry, and other crimes committed in Nigeria’s forests, bushes, and ungoverned territories.

He stated that each time people are kidnapped and taken into the bush, the country continues to lose billions of naira and forex in potential foreign direct investment (FDI) due to the negative image and reputation caused by kidnapping, banditry, separatism, extremism, and related crimes.

According to him, ungoverned territories have led to many companies leaving the country and stressed that Nigeria cannot afford not to have Forest Guard at this critical time.

“We should not sacrifice our motivation and opportunities to bring more hands on the deck and to work to curb insecurity in Nigeria at the altar of personal interest and material gains.

“Opinion leaders have long identified the major challenges in combating insecurity in Nigeria, which is the huge ungoverned territories, which are mostly in the forests, bushes, and 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,” Metchie said.

According to DCG Metchie, Nigeria Forest Guards Services, which the Nigerian Hunter and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) is transitioning into, is the missing link, gap, and lacuna in Nigeria’s security architecture, which, unless incorporated into national security, will continue to ache Nigeria because of the security vulnerability in bushes, forests, and other ungoverned areas.