He said
constitutional amendment has usurped the role of traditional rulers.
The Emir of
Borgu Kingdom in Niger State, HRH Muhammed Sani Haliru Dantoro, has called on
President Bola Tinubu to sign the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services
(NiHFS) Bill into law to help in tackling security challenges in the country.
He also commended
officers and men of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service for their
contributions to national security.
According to
him, signing the NiHFS Bill into law would enable officers and men of the organization
have government’s full backing and as well empower and embolden them to
collaborate with the police and other security agencies in tackling security
challenges in the country.
A statement
by the Media Adviser of NHFSS, Dr. Bonaventure Melah, said the monarch stated
these during a courtesy call on him by the management team of the organization,
led by its Commander-General, Dr. Wole Joshua Osatimehin, in his Abuja
residence.
While
regretting that the natural roles of traditional rulers have been taken away
from them through the constitutional amendment, the Emir stated that most of
them were aware of the exploits of NHFSS in their local communities in crime
control.
He assured
the NHFSS management team of his support, saying that President Tinubu, being a
listening leader would sign the Bill once his attention is drawn to it.
Emir Dantoro
said, “As traditional rulers, we are the direct custodians of the people. But
things have changed. We should and ought to be allowed to play our natural
roles from God. If we are allowed to play our roles, insecurity would not have
been to this level. We know our people and the ability of the hunters. For the
security of our domains, hunters are very critical. This is because they know
how to go about their duties in their localities and achieve results.
“I therefore want to use this opportunity to
call on Mr. President, to sign the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service
Bill into law, as a way of tackling security challenges in the country, in line
with the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration which has ending insecurity
as one of its cardinal points.”
Osatimehin
said they visited the Emir to draw inspiration from his wealth of wisdom and to
intimate him of the efforts of officers and men of the Service in tackling
crimes in the country.
He told the
Emir that the NHFSS has been in existence for over ten years, with command
structures in the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory as well as 774
Local Government Areas.
Osatimehin
informed the monarch that the Bill to establish the NHFSS has been passed by
the two chambers of the National Assembly, waiting for the assent of the
President.
To underscore
the efforts of the NHFSS,
he said many state governments have recognized them and are currently working
with the organization in tackling insecurity in Borno, Kebbi, Adamawa, Bauchi,
Kogi, Imo, and other States.
He also
narrated the achievements recorded by NHFSS in the areas like intelligence
gathering and sharing of information with security agencies, rescue of kidnap
victims as well as apprehension of kidnappers, bandits, cattle rustlers and
others.
The Deputy
Commander-General of NHFSS (Technical Services), Ambassador John Metchie told
the Emir that his late father saw the role Tinubu would play in the Nigeria and
honored him with the title of ‘Jagaban’, meaning Commander of the Warriors
He therefore
expressed confidence that as Jagaban of Nigeria, President Tinubu would solve
the security challenges facing the nation and pledged the readiness of NHFSS to
play key role in achieving that.
Apart from
Metchie, top officers who made up the team include ACGs and Commanders from
various departments of the organization.
Highlights
of the visit include presentation of plaque and Certificate to Emir Muhammed
Sani Haliru Dantoro as a patron of NHFSS.
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