FG Charges Seven NFSS-Linked Persons Over Alleged Illegal Security Operations, Arms Trafficking

The Nigerian government has filed criminal charges against seven persons, including retired army and police officers, over alleged illegal security operations, firearms trafficking, forgery, and unlawful possession of prohibited weapons.

The case was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday by the federal government through the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo.

The defendants are Adewale Osatimehin; Major Abubakar A. Mohammed, a retired army major; Okonkwo Lawrence, a retired superintendent of police; Usman Yakasai; Sunday Akpa, also a retired army major; Jov Charles; and Kuku Reuben.

According to court documents marked **FHC/ABJ/CR/285/2026**, the defendants are accused of participating in the establishment and operation of an organisation known as the **Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS)** without the required licence or legal authorisation.

The prosecution alleged that the offences were committed in Abuja in April 2026.

In the first count, the federal government accused the defendants of knowingly operating an illegal association, contrary to the Private Guard Companies Act, 1986.

The defendants were also accused of trafficking firearms, ammunition, and related materials through the NFSS without lawful authority, an offence said to be punishable under the Firearms Act.

The prosecution further alleged that the defendants forged 40 booklets of firearms licences purportedly issued by the Nigeria Police Force. The alleged forgery was listed in Counts Three and Four of the charge and said to violate provisions of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

The government also accused the defendants of unlawful possession of ammunition and prohibited firearms. According to the charge, they were allegedly found with 13 cartridges, two locally fabricated double-barrel rifles, and one locally made pistol without licences.

Reacting to the charges, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, criticised the federal government’s decision to prosecute the defendants.

Falana argued that the accused persons were being targeted for allegedly possessing locally made weapons for the purpose of providing security to individuals, public agencies, and private institutions.

He said the federal government could not justify what he described as the harassment of forest guards amid worsening insecurity across the country.

Falana urged the Attorney-General of the Federation to withdraw the charges immediately and called on the government to integrate the forest guards into Nigeria’s security structure.

He also advised that the forest guards should be retrained and properly equipped to support efforts against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal groups operating in forests and rural communities.

The NFSS, formerly known as the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service, describes itself as a security outfit established to assist conventional security agencies in fighting crimes in forests and rural areas.

The organisation says it operates across states and local government areas and has been seeking legal backing through an establishment bill before the National Assembly. It also claims the proposed law has been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly and is awaiting presidential assent.