Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) has inaugurated Counter- Terrorism Department.
The grand opening/inauguration of the department took place at its office in Kubwa, Abuja.
Officers from the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Civil Defence and other security agencies, stakeholders, as well as some members of the public were in attendance.
The department created from the office of the Commander General of the Service (CG), Dr. Adewole Joshua Osatimehin, is a part of the Service’s strategies to reinforce its machinery aimed at tackling terrorism and other criminal-related activities in Nigeria.
During the grand opening/inauguration, the CG, in his remarks, tasked the team of the newly inaugurated department to synergize with the parent bodies of the NFSS – Army, Police, Civil Defence, NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service – to be able to effectively carry out its mandates.
“You need to be professional, resilient and dedicated in discharging your duties, especially by organizing conferences and workshops for training to live up to the expectations by fulfilling your mandate,” the CG stressed.
Dr Osatimehin also called on traditional rulers and the entire public to be vigilant and assist the Counter-Terrorism Department by providing useful information that would help them in caring out their assignments.
In his speech titled: ” _Effective Collaboration for Enhanced Security,”_
the Commander of the Counter-Terrorism Department, Mayor Innocent Solomon, also expressed delight that the inauguration of the Counter-Terrorism Department was a huge achievement by the NFSS.
“This milestone represents a significant step forward in the mission of the NFSS to protect the nation and its people from the threats of terrorism and insecurity of every form,” the Commander said.
He added: “The theme of today’s event: “Effective Collaboration for Enhanced Security” underscores the core principles that guides our work.”
While urging other security stakeholders and the public for support, Solomon stressed: “In the face of evolving terrorist threats, no single agency or organization can succeed alone. It is only through collaboration, coordination, and
cooperation that we can effectively prevent, detect, and respond to terrorist activities.”
The Commander who also highlighted the basic mandates of the Department noted: “Our unit’s mandate is clear: to identify, disrupt, and neutralize terrorists and threats to security, while safeguarding our citizens and critical infrastructure.”
“Determined to carry out the mandates, he explained: “To achieve this, we will
foster partnerships with local, national, and international stakeholders, leveraging our collective expertise, intelligence, and resources.”
As the commander of this department, I pledge to nurture a culture of cooperation, innovation,
and excellence. We will work tirelessly to stay ahead of emerging threats, leveraging cutting-edge technology and human intelligence,” the Commander stressed.
“More so, our personnel will operate with the highest ethical standards in operation and conduct.
“To our partners, I say: your support and cooperation are invaluable. Together, we can achieve far more than we could alone.
“To my team, I say: Your dedication and expertise are the backbone of this unit. Let us work together with passion, professionalism and purpose.
“In opening this unit, we reenact our commitment to a safer and a more secure Abuja and Nigeria at large. Let us join forces to counter terrorism in Nigeria.
The DCG Operations, NFSS, Major (Dr) Muhammed Abdullahi, noted that terrorism disorganized public peace, security, organisations, individuals, structures and the society, insisting that efforts to also disorganize them must be intensified.
“That’s what we are out for,” he stressed.
He, therefore, called on the public to support the NFSS and the Counter-Terrorism Department in carrying out the onerous task.
He also called on government at all levels to support the cause, especially because of the sacrifices being made by the Service and the Counter-Terrorism Department.
“Our men have fallen casualties in discharging their duties. That’s why we are asking for support and government recognition,” he said.