Dr. John Metchie, African Director of the International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA), has called upon President Bola Tinubu to grant approval to the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) Bill.
This move is seen as crucial in empowering and bolstering the personnel of the service in their efforts to combat criminal activities in forests throughout the nation.
The NHFSS Bill, having gained approval from both the Senate and the House of Representatives, is now at the juncture awaiting the President’s crucial assent.
In his capacity as the Deputy Commander General of NHFSS overseeing Technical Services, Metchie issued the appeal to President Tinubu in a statement on Sunday. This came in response to the Christmas Eve attacks on communities in Plateau state and similar assaults in other regions of the North Central.
While acknowledging the President, Nigerian Army, the Police, and other security agencies for their swift response and adept management of the situation in Plateau and other affected areas, Metchie underscored the imperative for a permanent resolution.
He emphasized the need for thwarting criminals, including bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, cattle rustlers, and ritualists, from gaining entry to the forests and farms they utilize as hideouts for their nefarious activities.
Dr. John Metchie, concurrently holding the role of the Prime Minister at Anambra State Association of Town Union (ASATU), pointed out that while endorsing the NHFSS Bill into law might impose an additional financial burden on the government, the expenses pale in comparison to the immeasurable toll of human lives lost, communities set ablaze, and livelihoods destroyed by the attacks occurring year after year.
According to Dr. John Metchie, the aforementioned challenges are compounded by the adverse impact of insecurity, identified as the leading cause of investor exodus, carrying severe ramifications for the nation’s economy.
While commending the President, Nigerian Army, the Police and other security agencies for their response and control of the situation in Plateau and other affected areas, Metchie said a permanent solution is needed to ensure that criminals like bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, cattle rustlers and ritualists, among others, are denied access to forests and farms where they hide before and after carrying out their nefarious activities.
Metchie, who also serves as the Prime Minister, Anambra State Association of Town Union (ASATU), said although signing the NHFSS Bill into law would attract additional financial burden to government, the cost cannot be compared to the unquantifiable loss of human lives, burning of communities and destruction of their ways and means of livelihood caused by the attacks, year in, year out.
The above he said, is in addition of the negative effect of insecurity which he said is the primary cause of investor flight with serious consequence on the nation’s economy.
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According to Metchie, the solution to banditry and other crimes and criminalities committed within forests is permanent deployment of well-trained professional hunters and forest security operatives across the country, to work with the Police, Army, DSS and other security agencies, especially in the area of intelligence gathering and sharing as well as apprehension of criminals.
He said- “My first reaction to the Christmas Eve killing is some communities in Plateau State is to condemn the act, not only as a Nigerian and for our collective humanity, but as someone who was directly affected.
“This is because Plateau is my second home. My family has a long history with Plateau and especially Jos where I grew up. As I speak with you, I have a home in Jos and my wife is from the state. So, you can imagine how directedly affected that I am.
‘As the African Director, IAWPA, I have been working round the clock, alongside of regional and national leaders of the global body, preaching peace and violence- free world across Africa and Nigeria in particular. Therefore, an act of violence in any form is an affront to our vision of a crime free world.’
‘Having said that, I wish to once again, urge our President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, to give assent to the NHFSS Bill so that it can become law.’
‘Already, with the support and endorsement of some state governors, NHFSS operatives are working with the Police, Army, DSS and other security agencies in the war against crimes and criminalities, especially in terms of intelligence gathering and distribution. NHFSS officials have been playing pivotal roles in the apprehension of criminals and prevention of crimes.’
‘What is needed now, and urgently too, is for the President to assent to the Bill, so that NHFSS operatives would have the boldness to discharge their duties without fear or favour as this would go a long way in curbing incidences of terrorism, kidnapping for ransom, banditry, ritual killing and other similar crimes in the country,’ Metchie stated.