The highest authority of the Nigeria Police, has said the Force is willing and ready to work with the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), in tackling insecurity challenges in the country.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, gave the assurance Wednesday when the Commander General of NFSS, Dr. Wole Joshua Osatimehin, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

Egbetokun who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations, Bzigu Yakubu Kwazi, , praised the NFSS CG, as well as officers and men of NFSS of the Service the good job they are doing so farr, adding that he was sure that when the Bill for the establishment of the organization is signed into law by the President Bola Tinubu, the Service would be empowered to do more in their task of safeguarding forested areas of the country by making them inaccessible for criminal elements.

“We are aware that the NFSS has been doing its best in protecting our forests. I am not talking about deforestation here. We are talking about our forests that are been occupied by criminal element, non-sate actors.

“There is no member of the national assembly, be it in the senate or house of representatives, that does not know that the forests have become a threat to us. It is also a challenge to all security agencies, including the military, the police, customs, immigration, civil defence and NDLEA; the forest, instead of bringing in revenue through timber that is legalized, we have to fall back on importation from different countries to import wood to make furniture for domestic and office uses, which takes lot of revenue from our country.

“NFSS coming in as a security agency, is a welcome development. You have my support with my entire management team to support you in whatever way we can. We are ready to work with you as partners in the task of security our country,” the IGP stated.

Earlier in his remark, Dr. Wole Joshua Osatimehin said he led some top officers of the NFSS on the visit to thank the Police for the support it has been given the Service across the states while they carry out their duties.

Osatimehin who described the Police as “our parenting father,” recalled that the Force has been at the forefront of training its personnel since the NFSS was established in 2016, saying Police has trained hundreds of operatives across their various training schools across the country.”

The NFSS boss took time to brief the Police Chief on the content of the NFSS Bill which he said has been passed by the two chambers of the national assembly and on the table of President Bola Tinubu for assent, pledging that Nigeria’s forested areas would be a no-go-area for terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals when NFSS becomes a full-fledged government agency.

Reacting to the development, the Deputy Commander General (Intelligence) of NFSS, Ambassador John Metchie, commended Dr. Wole Osatimehin for his leadership qualities which he said has helped to make the Service a force to reckon with in the country.

Metchie praised IGP Egbetokun, the Director General of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), Mr. Adeola Ajayi as well as officers and men of the two security agencies, for their patriotic disposition which has helped to cement and deepen the trust them and the Nigeria Forest Security Service.

He thanked commissioners of Police in the 36 states and FCT for the corporation and support they have been giving to NFSS operatives, saying reports from across the country indicate that Police has always received intelligence shared to them by NFSS operatives with open mind.

Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a former president of Nigeria, has said his personal experiences with hardship growing up, shaped his lifelong commitment to peace and service to humanity.

Speaking at a reception in Abuja organised by “Friends of Dr Goodluck Jonathan” to honour his recent recognition with the 2025 Sunhak Global Peace Prize Award, Jonathan said his deep empathy for people in distress drives his work.

The former president said it had always being his desire to impact lives and promote peace in his space.

“I wouldn’t say much, but only to thank you and to reassure you that my commitment to peace will continue. I will continue to do my little best until the last day I will live on earth. I believe that’s the only way I can serve God, by serving man,” Jonathan said.

Jonathan said because he suffered while growing up as a child due to his humble background, he always felt sad seeing people suffering or seeing a country going through crisis.

The former Governor of Bayelsa added that it was his desire to see that no Nigerian suffer any lack, even though it was not so easy or possible for any president to achieve that.

“That has been my fear, and that was why I was very reluctant when I was approached to come to the centre, to be a vice president.

“I said, ‘Look, Bayelsa is a small state. Let me see what I can do with this small state, whether I can make significant changes’, but today here I am,” he said.

Jonathan appreciated the organisers of the Sunhak Global Peace Prize Award for counting him worthy, saying I never expected it.

Jonathan also appreciated the organisers of the reception for the great honour, even though he initially declined it.

“I also appreciate all those who attended this reception. I have listened to the comments from all of you, and I can only say thank you for those good words. They are quite encouraging,” he said.

The 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, said Nigeria would continue to celebrate Jonathan for the sacrifices he had made to make the country peaceful.

Obi, who was the chairman of the occasion, said everybody knew what Jonathan represented and the hope he had brought to Nigeria’s democracy.

“There is no special day to celebrate this award than today, Easter day, which is a day of sacrifice. We will continue to celebrate you for the sacrifice you made for this country to be at peace.

“You have put in a lot of efforts to ensure there is peace in Nigeria, Africa and the world as a whole,” Obi said.

The Chief Host of the occasion, Robert Azibaola, said that the friends of Jonathan found it worthy to celebrate him for the global recognition.

The story that linked the convoy of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to the death of a nine years old girl in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Thursday, has been described by the Police as fake.

The first lady was in Ondo State to launch the Renewed Hope Initiative Health Programme and to distribute 10,000 professional kits. comprising Crocs and scrubs, to midwives in the South-West zone.

In a statement, the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Olufunmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, clarified that the claim, published by an online reporters, was entirely baseless and misleading.

“The attention of the Ondo State Police Command has been drawn to a false and misleading report published by Sahara Reporters on April 17.

“It alleged that the convoy of the first lady, Sen. Oluremi, was responsible for the tragic death of a young girl in Akure,” the statement read.

“Eyewitness accounts and preliminary investigations conducted by the command confirm that the incident was caused by a hit-and-run driver operating an unregistered white Lexus vehicle.”

According to command’s spokesperson, a witness ,who observed the hit-and-run incident pursued the fleeing vehicle on a motorcycle immediately after the crash, which occurred in the Oba-Ile area of Akure.

The witness accounts were corroborated by several individuals at the scene, as well as by the victim’s parents.

“Furthermore, Sahara Reporters inaccurately claimed the deceased girl was nine years old.

According to her parents, the child was actually seven years old, highlighting the publication’s disregard for factual accuracy, even in a matter as sensitive as this,” the statement added.