NSA Ribadu Detains NFSS Commander-General and Six Others

Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, has reportedly detained Osatimehin Joshua Wole, the Commander-General of the Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS), along with six other individuals in Abuja. Those detained include L.E.

Okonkwo, retired Major Abubakar Muham, retired Major Sundai Akpa, Usman Muazu, Abdullahi Peter Jov, and Reuben Kuku. The specific reasons for their detention have not been disclosed, and neither the National Security Adviser nor the NFSS has issued an official statement regarding the matter.

The NFSS is tasked with securing forest areas across Nigeria, particularly in combating banditry and kidnapping. Osatimehin has been described as a key figure linked to local intelligence networks.

In October 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the creation of an arm forest guard unit to tackle insecurity in forest areas, a move aimed at addressing the rise in cases of kidnapping and terrorism linked to criminal groups operating within forests. Osatimehin had previously urged the president to sign a law bill establishing the NFSS, emphasizing the need for a specialized agency for forest security in Nigeria.