By Niyi Akande
Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service otherwise known as ‘local hunters’, Osun State Command, on Sunday declared readiness to partner the state government to prevent kidnappers from using forest in the state as hideout.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with Osun Daily in Osogbo, the Osun state commander of the NHFSS, Ahmed Nureni, said the group currently has about 6,000, men who hunt game regularly in forests across the state.
Nureni, who said with the good knowledge of the forest and widespread that the group enjoys, it can be a good partner to the conventional security operatives and rid forest in Osun of violent crimes.
According to him, shortly after security men launched assault on the kidnappers hiding in forests in Ekiti State, local hunters, especially those living in Osun communities that are on the border with Ekiti and Ondo States, were instructed to monitor closely happenings in their areas with a view to prevent infiltration.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for considering working with forest guards to tackle violent crimes, urging Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to partner with the organisation to ensure more effective security in forest in the state.
He further said, “Governor can check our records with the police and DSS. Currently, we have about 6,000 members across the state. Even in the remotest part of Osun, you will see our members.
“These hunters hunt game almost every week in forest across the state. So, we have good knowledge of the forest and that has given us the edge in this fight against kidnappers hiding in the forest. All we need is support of state government.
“The decision of the president, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to use Forest Guards to check criminals hiding in the forest is commendable. We are ready in Osun to work with the conventional security men.”
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