Insecurity: Reps Introduce Hunters/Forest Security Bill

Members of the House of Representatives have  reintroduced the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service (Establishment) Bill to address the security challenges in the country.

The Bill was passed in the preceding (9th) session of the National Assembly but was not assented to by the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari.

The proposed legislation seeks to establish the service to amongst others prevent and detect crimes and illegal activities going on in Nigerian forests.

The service would “Work with Nigeria Police and other security agencies as forest securities network due to their knowledge of the terrains.

“Make available relevant information on criminals’ encroachment on Nigeria forest spaces to relevant authorities; and partner with relevant stakeholders on Community policing.”

The bill was reintroduced for reconsideration by the 10th Assembly. It was brought up by the House leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvere at a recent plenary session, via Order 12 Rule 16 of the standing orders of the House.

The Order states that: “Bills passed by the preceding Assembly and forwarded to the Senate for concurrence for which no concurrence was made or negative or passed by the Senate and forwarded to the House for which no concurrence was made or negative or which were passed by the National Assembly and forwarded to the President for assent but for which assent or withholding thereof was not communicated before the end of the tenure of the assembly; the House may resolve that such Bill, upon being re-gazetted or clean copies circulated, be re-considered in the Committee of the Whole without being commenced de-novo.”

Ihonvere said the aforementioned Bill was passed by the preceding Assembly and forwarded to the President for assent but for which assent or withholding thereof was not communicated before the end of the tenure of the last Assembly.

The bill, amongst others reintroduced, were therefore committed to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.

The Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS), commander-general, Joshua Osatimehin, had said, signing the bill into law will give the Service the legal backing to “chase these criminals from the forests”.

“We have been rendering a series of auxiliary services to the country. We have collaborated with the existing security agencies like the Nigeria police, civil defence, army and DSS to strengthen the internal security system.

“You will agree that as hunters, we are present in all the nooks and crannies of our forests and some of these social enemies — the criminals – have made the forest their place of hibernation. Signing our bill into law will empower us to chase these criminals from the forests.

“The forests belong to hunters, not criminals. If our Bill is signed, that constitutional backup will strengthen our mode of operation to work with other security agencies to curb crimes and criminality in our ungoverned spaces which are majorly the forests, bushes and farmlands,” he had said.