By HASSAN Hussain | March 24, 2026
The Commander-General of the Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS), Dr. Wole Osatimehin, says the establishment of the organisation was a direct response to critical security gaps exposed by the December 28, 2015 bombing in Maiduguri, Borno State, which claimed about 90 lives and left several others injured.
Dr. Osatimehin made this known during a media briefing in Abuja, where he traced the evolution of the NFSS from a grassroots initiative to a nationally recognised security outfit.
According to him, the incident prompted a deeper assessment of Nigeria’s security architecture while he served as a consultant on national security to the House of Representatives Committee on National Security.
He explained that a stakeholders’ summit involving traditional rulers and community actors revealed deficiencies in local intelligence and grassroots security coordination, leading to the formation of the Nigerian Hunters Association, which later transformed into the Nigerian Hunters Council, and subsequently into the Nigerian Forest Security Service.
The NFSS Commander-General noted that the eventual institutionalisation of the Service followed the presentation of its bill before the Senate, commending the leadership of the 10th National Assembly for recognising the need for a community-based security structure.
Dr. Osatimehin disclosed that Nigeria currently has over 1,129 forest reserves, 27 game reserves, 17 national parks, and 417 grazing reserves, most of which are located within forested areas covering about 9.1 million hectares of land.
He added that the vast forest landscape, combined with Nigeria’s extensive land borders across several states, has made the country vulnerable to transnational crimes such as banditry, insurgency, and illicit trafficking.
The NFSS, he said, was designed to serve as an early warning mechanism by leveraging local knowledge of forest terrains and community networks to detect and prevent criminal activities.
On capacity building, Dr. Osatimehin stated that NFSS operatives have undergone extensive training with key security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the military, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
He said the trainings covered intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, protection of critical infrastructure, and prevention of illicit drug movement, noting that drug abuse contributes significantly to crime in Nigeria.
The Commander-General further explained that the Service has adopted a strict recruitment process requiring endorsement from local Divisional Police Officers, DSS officials, and traditional institutions to prevent infiltration by criminal elements.
He added that knowledge of local forest geography is a key requirement for enlistment.
Dr. Osatimehin revealed that the NFSS has expanded its presence across the country, covering all local government areas, and has established a national headquarters to enhance operational coordination and accountability.
He also announced plans to build a dedicated NFSS hospital to provide medical care for operatives, particularly those injured in the line of duty.
The NFSS is set to mark its 10th anniversary in June this year with a series of activities to highlight its achievements and contributions to national security.
Dr. Osatimehin commended the Federal Government, the National Security Adviser, and heads of security agencies for their support, describing current security challenges as inherited issues linked partly to regional instability following the fall of Libya’s former leader, Muammar Gaddafi.
He, however, expressed optimism that with sustained collaboration between formal security agencies and grassroots structures like the NFSS, Nigeria would overcome its security challenges.
Dr. Osatimehin called on Nigerians to remain patient and support ongoing efforts by the government and security agencies to restore peace and stability across the country.
