Insecurity: National Park solicits military support to safeguard nation’s forests against terrorists

The Conservator General (CG), National Park Service (NPS), Dr Ibrahim Musa Goni, has said he is set to partner with the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) towards safeguarding the nation’s forest reserve.

Goni made this public when he led NPS management staff on a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja.

Goni, stated that the NPS was established for the purpose of protecting and conserving the biodiversity in the designated areas which he identified as national parks, game reserves and forest reserve.

While commending the AFN for supporting NPS thus far, Goni noted that there was need to sustain the existing synergy, by working together to tackle the current security challenges facing the nation.

He further explained that the collaborative arrangement would be on combat training of NPS personnel and logistic support in order to boost the agency’s mandate of securing the forest reserves. 

According to him, “These forest reserves and national parks which are approximately 1,129 square metres have become hideout for bandits and terrorists.”

In his response, the CDS, Gen Lucky Irabor, represented by the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Dahiru Sanda reiterated the commitment of the AFN in collaborating with the NPS, describing the Service as a key agency in the security architecture of the nation.

He maintained that the relevant stakeholders must support the organization towards ensuring that the forests are well protected against criminalities. 

The CDS charged NPS on the need to dominate the nation’s forests in terms of intelligence gathering and sharing of information with the military and other security agencies so as to checkmate every form of terror and other crimes.

The visit was attended by the DHQ Departmental Chiefs and Directors. Among the NPS delegation were Assistant Conservators Dr Agboola Okofiyin, Mr Yakubu Mohammed Kolo, Mr Mohammed Kabir and Mr Yakubu Haruna Zull.

•National Park Service (NPS) management staff and Defence henchmen during Wednesday’s courtesy visit to CDS, Gen. Lucky Irabor