By Zika Bobby
Deputy Commander General of Nigerian Hunter and Forest Security Service (NHFSS), Johnny Metchie, has suggested that the outfit be converted into a national security service, the Nigeria Forest Guard Services (NFGS) to safeguard ungoverned territories for sustainable economic development of the nation.
Metchie said this will serve as a potent solution to kidnapping, banditry and other crimes perpetuated through forests, bushes and related ungoverned territories in Nigeria.
He said apart from many other losses to Nigeria too numerous to count, each time people are kidnapped and taken into the bushes, the nation continues to lose billions of naira and forex due to bad image and negative reputation caused by kidnaping, banditry, separatism, extremism and related crimes.
He decried a situation where insecurity that has become rampant in Nigeria due to the unmanned, ungoverned territories has led to many companies leaving the country, stressing that Nigeria cannot afford not to have forest guards at this critical time.
He commended the Federal Government for the efforts committed to add greater impetus to the fight against insecurity in Nigeria, especially considering the government’s moves to establish new security agencies.
Metchie urged all in authority to rise above personal sentiments, selfishness and aggrandisement to take decisions that will be for the interest of the nation and the nation only.
“Opinion leaders have long identified as a major challenge in combating insecurity in Nigeria, the huge ungoverned territories, which 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.