In a significant boost to inter-agency cooperation, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have pledged support for the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS).

The endorsement came at the closing ceremony of a specialised training for the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Provost departments of the NFSS in Abuja.

Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ajao Adewale, said collaboration among security agencies is critical to combating insecurity, particularly in forests. He noted that the FCT, surrounded by vast forest and mountainous terrain, had become a hideout for criminals migrating from other states.

“Fighting insecurity is not the job of one agency alone. Intelligence is the lifeline of any security operation. This training shows your readiness to raise your operational standards,” he said.

Adewale commended the NFSS for its proactive approach and called for continued synergy in data sharing and intelligence-based policing to improve community safety.

Chairman of the NDLEA, retired Brig-Gen Buba Marwa, who was represented by the agency’s Deputy Director of Operations and Investigation, Kayode Raji, also praised the NFSS for investing in intelligence training. He assured continued collaboration, especially in the fight against drug-related crimes within forest regions.

“No single agency can fight crime alone. Security must be networked to be effective and to prevent inter-agency friction,” he added.

FCT Commandant of the NSCDC, Olusola Odumosun, lauded the NFSS for its commitment to national security, reiterating the Corps’ readiness to continue partnering with forest security operatives to safeguard lives and property.

Commander-General of the NFSS, Dr. Joshua Osatimehin, said the training was part of efforts to enhance the capacity of key departments to coordinate better with other security bodies.

“The Department of State Services (DSS), the military, and the police all participated in the training to share their experience. Our officers are now better prepared, more confident, and strategically positioned to tackle insecurity in forest zones,” he added.

Osatimehin urged NFSS personnel to continue to build on the momentum and strengthen inter-agency collaboration in the security architecture.