The Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), has urged the Governor of Plateau State, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, to take advantage of its already command in the state, to protect his people by recruiting and empowering more young people into the Service.

The Deputy Commander General of NFSS, in charge of Intelligence, Amb. John Metchie, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja, while reacting to the recent killing of over 50 people in some communities that make up Bokkos local government.

Metchie who spoke on behalf of the Commander General of the Service, Dr. Wole Joshua Osatimehin, said he was personally touched by the unfortunate incident, being an indigene of Plateau by circumstances of his birth in Jos and marriage to a woman from there.

While expressing his heartfelt sympathy to Governor Caleb Mutfwang and the entire people of the state, Metchie who is also the African Director, International Association of World Peace Advocates, IAWPA, said the Abuja headquarters of NFSS, has already established a command in Plateau State which the government should take advantage of, by recruiting hundreds of young people, provide them operational vehicles and other tools to safeguard the forests, working with the military, police, Office of the National Security Adviser, DSS and others.

The NFSS DCG Intelligence noted that Plateau is one of the states with the most forested areas in the country and urged the Governor to deploy forest security operatives to guard borders and other strategic parts, as a way of deterring criminal elements from infiltration.

Metchie also said that Nigeria, with huge population of over 215 million, cannot be left in the hands of already established security agencies alone, adding that some states like Kogi and Bauchi, among others, have embraced the services of NFSS, which he said is part of the reasons for the successes being recorded in securing the states.

He said- “Let me express my condolences, on behalf of the Commander General of NFSS, Dr. Wole Joshua Osatimehin and all officers and men of the Service, to my friend, His Excellency, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang and the people of Plateau State, on yet another unfortunate killing of many of our brothers and sisters by criminal elements.

“I am particularly toughed and pained by the ugly incident, first because I was born and raised in Jos, with hundreds of childhood friends. Secondly, my dear wife is from Plateau state, which makes me a direct mourner.

“As the Deputy Commander General, Intelligence, NFSS, we are aware that Plateau is one of the most forested states in the country, which makes it easy prey for criminals to infiltrate and operate in the state from the forests. Knowing that the primary assignment of NFSS is to curb crimes and criminalities, especially those that are committed within the forested regions, we believe that the NFSS would, in no small way, assist the established parent security agencies like the military, the police, office of the NSA, the DSS, NSCDC and others, to fight insecurity in Plateau state, through intelligence gathering and sharing as well as combat engagement against undesirable elements.

“Already, the NFSS has a well-established and functional command structure in Plateau State. What is needed is for the government to recruit hundreds of young people from across the communities, empower them with operational vehicles and other necessary tools to guard and protect their people. One of the advantages of making use of NFSS, is that operatives are recruited from locals to guard and protect their communities and relatives.

“With the special training NFSS operatives undergo, we are well equipped to understand the terrains more than strangers and therefore in a better position to record successes in our responsibilities.

“I therefore call on my good friend and brother, the Governor, to approach the headquarters of NFSS to discuss and agree on the best way to go about making peace in return to Plateau again,” Metchie stated.

He also used the opportunity to call on President Bola Tinubu to sign the NFSS Bill which was recently passed by the senate, saying it would help to strengthen security across the country.