The Commander General of the Nigeria Forest Security Service, Joshua Osatimehin, speaks with OLUFEMI ADEDIRAN about the agency’s role in the Federal Government’s plan to recruit 130,000 forest guards, ongoing efforts to secure the nation’s forests, and the challenges of combating illegal logging and other environmental crimes

President Bola Tinubu recently approved the recruitment and training of forest guards. What role is your agency playing in this process, and when should Nigerians expect their deployment?

We thank Mr. President for taking proactive measures to provide solutions to forest security. We have been working as forest guards over the years, even when there was nothing at stake. The process of harmonisation and integration into this proposed forest guard recruitment is ongoing. We are definitely the nucleus of the structure for it to have its full expression of mandate. We are fully involved in the process.

What roles will these new forest guards play in addressing insecurity?

We have a major and very important role to play because when you look at the military, the police, and other paramilitary agencies, there is no agency saddled with the responsibility of forming security surveillance in the forest except the Nigeria Forest Security Service. With this, we are very important to national security.

I believe we are the missing link in terms of national security sustainability. In terms of investigation and prosecution within the forest corridor, you will see the NFSS collaborating with the Nigeria Police. For joint task operations in combing the forest and flushing out criminals from their hideouts, you will see the Nigeria Forest Security Service working hand in hand with the military. When it comes to fighting against hard drugs within the forest corridor, you will see us synergising with the NDLEA. We are also useful in the prevention of illegal immigrants passing through the borders, as we collaborate with the Immigration Service. You will also see us partnering with Customs for the prevention of smuggling of contraband goods through our forests. You can see why we should be integrated into national security. We are very important to strengthening the internal and external security of the country.

How familiar are your operatives with the forest areas they are expected to secure?

The NFSS is a product of a community-based hunters’ association. It was after going through a series of legislative processes that the Senate decided to name it the Nigeria Forest Security Service. Our understanding of the forest terrain makes us more relevant in maintaining security in our forests than any other security agency. This also makes us different from the conventional police. In the NFSS, you will work where you were born and where you live. For example, if you are from Osun State, the state has 30 local government areas with 22 forest reserves. Before you can be enlisted or recruited into the NFSS, you must have passed background checks, shown capacity, and demonstrated knowledge of the forest terrain within your state and the nautical miles of all interconnected forest linkages. These are the prerequisites for enlistment. It is only after you have passed through all these checks that you can be enlisted as a forest guard. By the time you go for refresher training with the police, the military, and others, it will boost your confidence in detecting criminal hideouts.

What would you say is delaying the takeoff of the forest guard recruitment exercise?

Security issues need to be handled carefully so that we don’t end up making mistakes that could aggravate insecurity. All the security agencies and stakeholders involved in the recruitment and training exercise are working hard to ensure that all bureaucratic bottlenecks are resolved. This is a security agency about to be given birth to, so the input of the military, the police, and other agencies needs to be duly considered. I believe very soon, Nigerians should expect a more consolidated and pragmatic solution to the problem of forest insecurity.

Some people believe the recruitment is unnecessary since there are already groups like Amotekun and other local vigilantes. How do you respond to that?

The coming of the Forest Guard Service as a dedicated security outfit within forested areas will help address many of the challenges currently faced there. The country’s insecurity problem is local and must be treated locally. Kidnapping, banditry, and Boko Haram activities all happen in our forests. The Amotekun Corps are not well-equipped or positioned to tackle these problems. Moreover, Amotekun mainly operates within towns and not in forested areas. We are talking about forest areas that have been left ungoverned and unprotected for years. If we can drive these criminals out of our forests, even the workload on the police, DSS, and other security agencies will be greatly reduced. With what is happening, are there not Amotekun? What have they done differently? Their operations are within towns, but we are talking about navigating the forests and arresting these people in their hideouts. That will solve many internal security problems.

The world has gone global, and it requires specialisation. If you recall, the National Security Organisation was in place when Gen. Murtala Muhammed was killed in 1976, but the successive government broke the NSO into three agencies — the Department of State Services (to manage internal security), the National Intelligence Agency (to gather foreign intelligence), and the Defence Intelligence Agency (to manage military intelligence). So, if the NFSS operates in the forests and Amotekun operates within towns, it is all about synergy and collaboration. There is no need for unnecessary antagonism. Nigeria’s forest is vast; it covers almost 10 million hectares of land. The military, the police, and other paramilitary agencies are already operating within the towns, but no one is covering the forested areas. So, recruiting forest guards will go a long way in curbing internal security problems in our country.

What challenges are your men facing in the field?

The number one challenge is the lack of government approval. Government approval of our activities will really embolden our officers. When you are doing something and the Federal Government is aware, it gives you more confidence. But if you are working and nobody knows, it reduces your morale. That is why we want this harmonisation to take place on time, to give us constitutional recognition so we can perform at full capacity.

How equipped are the forest guards at the moment?

With government approval, I believe we will be well-equipped. For now, as a volunteer group, all we are doing is based on love for our fatherland. Nobody has given us a dime — no equipment, no logistics support. But I believe that with Federal Government approval, there will be proper harmonisation.

Kwara State has recently experienced attacks by suspected bandits. What steps do you think the government should take to stop the incursion of bandits into the state and other parts of the country?

If the government wants to curb the incursion of bandits into Kwara State and the South-West within three months, they should include the NFSS in the solution plan because we know the terrain and all the forest linkages. Kwara has 16 local government areas with about 21 forest reserves. We have mapped out these forest areas and designed a strategy to tackle the problem. What we need is government readiness to work with us. Kwara is located within the North-Central zone, which has seven states, including the FCT (Federal Capital Territory). Out of these seven states, three border international countries — Kwara, Benue, and Niger. All we need to do is block illegal immigrants from entering the state through the forests. If we are integrated into the internal security architecture of Kwara State today, I believe a lot will be achieved within a few days.

Based on your experience, would you say the majority of these bandits are Nigerians, or are they infiltrating from neighbouring countries?

Yes, the majority of the bandits are from neighbouring countries. Nigeria has not really studied the post-Muammar Gaddafi situation in Libya and its implications for our national security. Gaddafi ruled for 42 years, and during his time, he hired mercenaries from five major countries: Sudan, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Chad. They were called the Tuareg soldiers — the people who fought for Gaddafi. After Gaddafi was assassinated by the West, these fighters scattered across Africa. They must eat, they know how to shoot, and they can live in forests for years. They know all the forests across Africa. What Nigeria needs to do is set up forest security guards to prevent the influx of these miscreants into the country. Nigeria has 36 states, including the FCT, and 17 international border communities. Starting from the South-West, which has six states — Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos border international communities. In the South-South, there are six states, and two — Cross River and Akwa Ibom — border international communities. Three out of the seven North-Central states — Benue, Niger, and Kwara — share international borders. Five states in the North-West and four in the North-East also share borders. Only the South-East has no international borders. All we need to do is map out these entry points, identify all the hideouts, and secure the forests, which we already know very well. The government knows how this problem can be solved if they are willing. Nigeria must have well-equipped and trained forest guards to secure the ungoverned spaces in our forests.

How can the government strengthen border and forest security to prevent infiltration by foreign armed groups?

Anybody who tells you they will eradicate insecurity is lying. You can only reduce it. We are doing our best to reduce it to the barest minimum. If the government can empower us, I assure you that in less than three months, Nigeria will be singing a new song. It is all about government willpower. Once we are properly harmonised and take off, insecurity will be reduced to the barest minimum. I’m not saying we are better than the military or the police, but our knowledge of the terrain gives us an edge over other organisations.

There have been concerns about rivalry among security agencies. How will the new Forest Guard Service ensure smooth collaboration with existing security bodies?

There is rivalry everywhere, even among religious organisations. But I think if we can manage the rivalry within security agencies well, we will overcome our challenges. What we are all after is the security of the country, not interagency rivalry. We need to put aside primordial interests, end unnecessary competition, and work together as a team for the safety of the lives and property of all Nigerians.

Right now, how well spread is your agency’s presence across Nigeria’s forests?

Nigeria has 1,129 forest reserves, 29 game reserves, and 17 national parks. The South-South has the highest number of forest reserves with 238, followed by the South-West with 222. The South-East has 211, the North-Central 174, the North-East 156, and the North-West 128. Some of these forests have been degraded due to illegal logging. We have identified several criminal hotspots in these forests, including mountainous areas being used as hideouts. We have mapped all these out; what we are waiting for is government approval. We are fully prepared for the task. (PUNCH)

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