According to a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the monarch made the call when the Commander General of NHFSS, Joshua Osatimehin, visited him in his palace in Ile Ife, Osun State.
The traditional ruler, who commended the efforts of the commander-general over the years in complementing the activities of other security agencies in tackling insecurity in the country, said giving constitutional recognition to NHFSS would go a long way in reducing banditry, kidnapping, Boko haram, terrorism and other forms of security challenges confronting Nigeria.
The Ooni, who spoke in Yoruba language, said, “All well-meaning Nigerians can attest to how officers and men of the NHFSS are providing needed intelligence and other information as well as the manpower in collaboration with the police, the military and other security agencies towards the arrest and prosecution of criminals in Nigeria, especially those happening within forests and farmlands.”
According to him, the activities of NHFSS have helped in checkmating criminality, especially in forests surrounding Osun State.
The Ooni further promised that the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service Bill, seeking to legalise the activities of various hunter groups in Nigeria would be discussed during the meeting of traditional rulers and presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as provision of logistics towards realising the mandate of the organisation.
While advising men and officials of NHFSS to continue to render their service with diligence and patriotism, Oba Ogunwusi called for more measures to address insecurity in the country.
In the statement, Osatimehin, who spoke earlier, said he was in the palace to seek royal blessings and support for the programmes and activities of NHFSS towards improved security nationwide.
He also thanked the monarch for granting him and his team an audience in his palace.
The commander-general, while appreciating the traditional ruler for his planned support to NHFSS, said the service would not relent in its efforts to protect the lives and property of Nigerians by rendering necessary assistance on intelligence gathering to relevant security agencies in the country.
He, further, solicited the same support and cooperation with other traditional rulers in the country to enable the administration of President Tinubu to achieve its agenda of improved security in Nigeria.
