The Osun State Commander of the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), Hammed Nureni, has said no fewer than 23 boundary routes in the state pose security threats.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Nureni, in an interview with Punch, said the boundaries must be properly monitored to prevent criminal infiltration.
He identified forests linking Osun and Ekiti states through Oke-Imesi and Imesi-Ile as areas requiring close surveillance.
He also said forests around the Osun-Kwara boundary in Ora, Oyan and Ila-Odo were vulnerable to infiltration.
Nureni said criminals had previously used boundary forests between Osun and Ekiti to enter some communities in the state.
He stated, “Some time ago, bandits used the boundary between Osun and Ekiti through Oke-Imesi to enter Otan, Ilare and Ijebu-Jesa.
“There is also a forest around Lagbada in the Ile-Ife axis. Some criminals recently crossed the Sasa River, but our operatives moved there to stop them.
“Residents alerted us, and our operatives responded, but the criminals had left before they arrived. Two days later, they struck in Oyo State. Once the river dries up, they can move from Oyo to Osun and vice versa.”
‘Illegal Inhabitants In Forest Reserves’
The Osun NFSS commander said forests from Papa in Iwo to forest reserves linking Osun and Ogun states through Orile-Owu and Apomu currently had “illegal inhabitants.”
He warned that such persons could become willing tools for bandits.
Nureni said, “Another dangerous place where they can hide is the Awolowo Reserve at Orile-Owu, which links Ogun State, because no drone can effectively penetrate that area.
“In Oyo State, forests around Aawe to Iwo can also be unsafe. Through the Kwara-Osun boundary, criminals can infiltrate through Ila, Oyan, Konta and Ora.
“Along the Osun boundary with Ondo State, gunmen often attack through Erinmo, Omo-Ijesa, Iwaraja and Ijebu-Jesa.”Asked what the organisation was doing to prevent infiltration, Nureni said its operatives regularly entered vulnerable forests under the guise of hunting while monitoring activities.
He said the organisation also relied on informants across the state.
He further stated, “From time to time, our hunters go into these forests to hunt animals. While doing that, we monitor movement and activities in the forest. We also have informants across the state. Once they notice strange movements, they alert us, and we respond immediately.
“There was a time we confronted bandits in one location, and they attempted to fight us, but we chased them away. We reported the incident at the Imesi-Ile Police Division.”
Nureni said the major challenge facing the NFSS in Osun was a lack of government support. He disclosed that about 6,000 hunters had been trained across communities in the state.
According to Nureni, “The major challenge confronting us is the lack of government support. We have trained about 6,000 hunters in Osun NFSS drawn from communities across the state.
“We can build a 30,000-man force and, with proper remuneration, these men are ready to live in the forests and prevent criminal activities.”