NHFSS complementing Police, Army, others to fight bandits, terrorists in Nigeria-- Commandant General





Titus maduako Eleweke

Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) has stated that it has complementary role to help the Police, Army and other security agencies in the fight against bandits, terrorists, kidnappers and other crimes and criminalities in the country.

Commandant General of the NHFSS Amb. Dr. Joshua Wale Osatimehi, stated this in Onitsha Anambra state business hub during a working visit to the zonal officers of the organisation in the state.
The zone comprises all the five states in the Southeast.
He said NHFSS is doing a lot to stamp out criminalities in the country by gathering and sharing intelligence with the various security agencies in the country.
According to him, apart from intelligence gathering, officers and men of the service are also involved in flushing out criminals, either working alone or collaborating with Police and others, especially crimes within and around bushes and forests.

Osatimehi who paid homage to some royal fathers in the state, in company of the Deputy Commander General in charge of Technical Services, Ambassador John Metchie and other top officers of NHFSS, noted that hunters have proven their gallantry and bravery in the war against criminal elements and have rescued kidnap victims as well as recovered stolen items kept in the forest by miscreants.

According to Osatimehi, they were in Anambra state to synergise with constituted authorities and to intimate them with their modus operandi of hunters in Nigeria.

He said the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service have been in existence over the years working in collaboration with constituted authorities across the country to flush out crimes and criminalities in the forest as stipulated in the bill establishing the outfit.

The Commandant General also disclosed that the bill establishing the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service has received the blessings and endorsements of the National Assembly and it is now awaiting for presidential assent.

He said that they were in the zone to further educate officers and men of the organisation on the need to be disciplined and more professional in their mode of operations.

According to the NHFSS boss, hunters are the real owners of the forest and not criminal gangs.

He however announced that hunters have recorded series of tremendous success across Nigeria just as he appealed for logistic supports like operational vehicles and motorcycles to chase criminals out in the forests.

Another very pertinent issue the NHFSS helmsman raised was the legal framework of the organization, noticing that if the NHFSS Bill is endorsed by Mr. President, it would boost their morale and also afford them more leverage to work with other constituted authorities.

He therefore reiterated that the Bill establishing the organization is seeking enactment of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service under the Federal Government.

That the bill has scaled through the first, second and third readings in the National Assembly and according to him, the bill has been transmitted to Mr. President; that before long the legal framework for the organization would be intact.

Meanwhile the traditional ruler of Umuoba-Anam community in Anambra-East council area of the state, His Royal Highness Igwe George Ekwealor, who was one of the royal fathers visited, eulogised the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service, recalling that hunters were veritable security apparatus in the preliterate era.

Ekwealor urged officers and men of the NHFSS across the country not to relent in recovering the forest from criminals.

He also appealed to state, federal and local councils, public spirited individuals and corporate organisations to support the hunters in their quest to reclaim the forest from unknown gunmen, kidnappers, armed robbers and other social misfits.

In his remarks, Amb John Metchie hailed the gallantry of the hunters, saying that they have helped tremendously to improve and enhance local security and vigilance.

Metchie however maintained that rather than sabotage the efforts of the hunters, it is important that Nigerian hunters be supported with working tools and other relevant materials to enable them compliment the efforts of other security agencies.

Other officers that accompanied the Commander General on the visits include Deputy Commandant General (Admin) Barr. Lawrence Okonkwo, Deputy Commandant General (Training and Development), the Southeast Zonal Coordinator, State Commanders of the five southeast states as well as other senior officers of the organisation during the visit.

Hahahahahahahaha IGWE....

You know ESN are in those forest.. why not release MNK so that he can stall any impending clash in that forest...

You want to put those innocent hunters in harms way.... now its army vs ESN vs terrorist..Hmmm God abeg ooo