Operatives of the Nigeria Forest Security Service, NFSS have rescued a kidnapped girl and apprehended the suspected abductor during a night operation in the Oke-Ode axis of Ifelodun Local Government in Kwara State.
The Deputy Commander General (Intelligence) of the NFSS, Dr John Metchie announced the rescue and arrest while addressing newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.
Metchie said the suspect has been taken into custody, adding that even though mobility constraints temporarily delayed the transfer of the suspect, measures were taken to secure him until daylight.
He commended the Kwara Command of NFSS and the Commander, Mr Oyewole Nasirudeen for the gallantry of the operatives.
“The NFSS Kwara Command’s operational report indicates that the mission was executed successfully without casualties.
“The rescued victim is safe, while the suspect has since been handed over to the Oke-Ode Police Division for further investigation.
“This incident underscores the growing effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration and community-based intelligence in addressing insecurity across Nigeria’s forested regions,” he said.
Metchie reiterated the commitment of NFSS to work with all the security agencies to rid forests across the country of criminalities.
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He assured the public that the service would be able to do better with the signing into law, the NFSS bill by President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, when the bill is signed the operatives will be empowered to bear arms and other security equipment that will aid their operations.
Metchie commended the Commander General of NFSS, Dr Joshua Osatimehin, for providing the right and focused leadership and enhancement of the service’s operational effectiveness.
Meanwhile, the Senate says the security challenges, such as banditry, terrorism and kidnapping hitherto plaguing the country is now on the downward trend.
Spokesperson for the senate, Sen. Yemi Adaramodu, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria said that the military had done well in the fight against insecurity in the country.
“The reason the military has done well is because the National Assembly ensures that appropriation is adequately done to ensure they get what they needed for arms and ammunition and welfare of the soldiers.
“On daily basis, we now hear and see how the military has been neutralising these bandits and terrorists. So, we can say that banditry is localised in one or two states now and they are being tackled,” he said.
According to the senate spokesperson, the spate of kidnappings witnessed several months back in some parts of the country has grossly reduced.
“All over the world, we know that there is insecurity. For instance, in America, you will be in a shop, and somebody will come and open fire without any reason.
“So, we will always be having criminals in the society, but it is not the same spate that we were having it before that is the situation today,’’ he said.
Adaramodu, representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, who warned against playing politics with security, noted that before now, it used to be one day one trouble in the country.
“Before now, Nigerians were unable to sleep, but now, the situation has changed but because of politics, they (critics) can go to town and be brandishing all those rhetorics.
“Anybody who choses to be reasonable can attest to the fact that the issue of kidnapping has gone down.
“For me, I think this development calls for kudos to the military, the president and the national assembly,’’ he said.
NAN
