Insecurity: ‘we know how to fight, flush out bandits in the Forest – NFSS boss,  Igwe

By Uchenna Okeh Abakaliki 

The Commander, Nigerian Forest Security Service ( NFSS) Ebonyi State Command, Larry Ikema Igwe on Thursday said that the outfit is prepared to fight and flush out bandits from the forest in the country.

Igwe however, revealed the preparedness of the outfits to provide adequate security of lives and property during this year’s yuletide. 

He made this known while speaking newsmen in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State.

The Commander, Igwe said that he had mobilized his men to border areas like Benue, Agila and Cross River State, reiterated the commitment of NFSS to continue to fight banditry in Ebonyi State.

Igwe applauded President Bola Tinubu’s  pronouncement for the NFSS to start carrying arms, even as he commended the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru for supporting them ,adding that the Commander General of the Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS), Joshua Wole Osatimehin, has left no stone unturned to ensure security of schools and communities at ungovernable spaces. 

“The President pronouncement is a pronouncement to ensure that every Nigerian sleeps with their two eyes. He made the pronouncement at the right time because nobody can fight bandits without arms”, he said.

Igwe, who expressed gratitude over the pronouncements,  said hitherto, they had been fight banditry without arms and  noted that the President had seen the effort they have been making. 

“So I have to thank the Almighty God who gave us the wisdom, the knowledge, our own local way to fight the bandits till today. Most effort we have made throughout the whole country through the media, and through any other way we did a lot without much arms. 

“So for President to see our effort, see what we have been doing when there is no arms, and make a pronouncement of arms, that means he has seen that we will do more better. 

“He has seen that we are the only way to fish out those criminal elements that called themselves  bandits, who now take our forests as their estate”, he stated.

The NFSS Commander in Ebonyi State further assured the people of Ebonyi State of hitch-free Christmas and New Year celebrations, saying that he had deployed his men to border areas of the state to check the activities of bandits. 

He declared,  “I want to assure you people, for the fact that Nigeria Forest Security Service is in existence in this country, especially in the bordering states, the Christmas, the Yuletide will be celebrated peacefully. 

“People wil be happy go to their homes, and come back to their respective cities where they are doing their businesses. 

“We have 86 forest criminal spots in this state, which my men have  identified  and I have deployed my men to neighbouring boundaries of Agila, Cross River, Benue, all that areas, my men are there to make sure that the yuletide is celebrated peacefully”, he assured.

He added that NFSS in Ebonyi State is partnering with the Police, NSCDC, DSS to crackdown on criminal elements, including illegal drug peddlers and human traffickers.