The Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) has urged the federal government to recognise forest security as a crucial component of the nation’s overall security framework.

The deputy commander-general in charge of Intelligence in the NFSS, John Metchie, made the call during a zonal training session for NFSS personnel in Jos.

This is contained in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday in Abuja.

Mr Metchie said the forest had remained one of the most vulnerable and ungoverned spaces in Nigeria, yet received little attention in national security planning.

“Forest security is often overlooked in Nigeria’s broader security ecosystem.

“While the army, police, and other conventional forces patrol the cities and highways, vast forest areas across Nigeria remain largely unmonitored. That’s where we come in, and that is where we are needed most,” he said

Mr Metchie explained that NFSS was created to bridge that gap, to gather intelligence within forests, monitor movements, and collaborate with other security agencies in tackling crimes such as banditry, arms trafficking, illegal mining, and cross-border criminality.

He said the operatives of the service were indigenous who know the terrain better than the police or army.

According to him, they are embedded in the communities, live and work in the forests which makes them effective intelligence gatherers.

He said the training was being held simultaneously in other states like Nasarawa, Benue, and across the South-East and North-East zones, to deepen officers’ capacity in intelligence gathering and inter-agency coordination.

According to him, NFSS operatives are trained on gathering, analysing, and sharing forest-based intelligence with relevant bodies such as the army, police, and immigration services.

“We have been described as the missing link in Nigeria’s security framework and that is accurate.

“When we gather intelligence, we don’t act alone. We share with our sister agencies. Our job is complementary, not competitive,” he added

Mr Metchie commended President Bola Tinubu for his leadership and appealed to him to sign the pending Forest Security Bill to give NFSS full recognition and legislative support.

“We are ready. Our men are trained, mobilised and deployed. All we ask is legal backing so we can function optimally as a national security asset,” he said.

Also speaking, David Mwahoss, commander of Plateau State command, said that over 5,000 officers were currently active across local communities in the state.

He said the personnel had made sacrifices, adding that some had paid the ultimate price while ensuring security in the forests and rural communities.

“If given full backing by the government, we can secure areas that conventional forces cannot easily access.

“NFSS officers are not outsiders, but locals who know every inch of the forest and can act quickly on credible intelligence.

“With insecurity in forests continuing to fuel wider instability, strengthening forest security is not an option, it is a necessity,” he added.

 (NAN)