Posted by President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to sign the Hunters and Forestry Security Service Bill into law by Johnny Chukwudi Metchie, Assistant Commander General of the Nigerian Hunters and Forestry Security Service (NHFSS) in charge of Technical Services.
According to him, the bill is a surefire means to stop terrorists and other criminal groups from accessing the woodlands to carry out crimes against Nigerians.
Remember that on Saturday, suspected terrorists attacked a train station in the Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State on their way to Warri in Delta State and kidnapped a large number of passengers who were waiting to board, inflicting severe injuries on several of them.
In response to the event, Metchie told reporters on Monday that it is now important for President Buhari to sign the Bill into law giving Forest Guards the authority to carry weapons and defend farms and forests, as is the situation in many other nations.
Recruiting, arming, and empowering young people to work as hunters and forest guards will make it more difficult for criminals to operate out of the forests, he claimed, and will be one of the most effective ways to stop the threat of bandits and other terrorist operations.
Metchie said that the Hunters and Forestry Security Service would take over the protection and preservation of all of the nation’s forests once the Bill becomes law.
He claimed that passing the Bill into law would be one of the best presents President Buhari could give his successor because it would facilitate their efforts to combat insecurity.
He declared: “It is really terrible and regrettable that so many passengers waiting to board a train in Edo on Saturday were attacked and kidnapped.
In addition to denouncing the heinous conduct and expressing my sympathy to the victims and their families, I would want to take this occasion to urge President Muhammadu Buhari to swiftly sign the Hunters and Forestry Security Service Bill into law. The Bill is in front of the President and is just awaiting his approval.
“I’ve lived in a variety of nations, including those in Europe, the United States, Canada, and other regions. Forest Guards and Hunters guard the forests in these nations, including South Africa. And this greatly aids in stopping criminal activity, particularly that of people who hide out in forests to engage in evil deeds.
Where do robbers and other terrorists take their victims when they commit a crime? It’s the farms and forests. Because they are aware that there are no authorized security guards there, they take their victims to the woodlands. When the Bill becomes law, it will give hunters and forest guards the right to bear arms and encourage them to work hard and defend their country because they will know that the government is behind them.
“I think President Buhari is a statesman and a patriotic citizen. I’d like to think and feel that the president wants to leave his predecessor with enduring legacies. So, without further delay, he should sign the bill into law himself to relieve the incoming administration of the burden of sending it to the lawmakers.
“Food security and job creation are two additional areas where passing the Bill would be beneficial for the nation. The cost of food is skyrocketing right now. The cause is that a lot of farmers have had to leave the bush because of insecurity.
“Armed forest guards would give farmers peace of mind that their produce and farms are secure. Additionally, state governments would be inspired to enlist thousands of young people after the Bill was signed into law, which would significantly lower unemployment and the number of people turning to crime, Metchie continued.