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.