The Office of the National Security Adviser has taken into custody the Commander-General of the Nigerian Forest Security Service, Dr Osatimehin Joshua Wole, along with six other members of the organisation, in a development that has raised questions within security circles.
Sources familiar with the situation said the individuals were arrested and are currently being held in Abuja, although no official explanation has been provided for their detention.
Those reportedly detained alongside Osatimehin include L.E. Okonkwo, retired Major Abubakar A. Muhammed, retired Major Sunday Akpa, Usman Muazu Abdullahi, Peter Jov, and Reuben Kuku.
As of the time of reporting, neither the Office of the National Security Adviser nor the Nigerian Forest Security Service has issued a public statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding the arrests.
The development comes against the backdrop of ongoing efforts by the federal government to strengthen security in forested regions, which have increasingly been identified as hideouts for criminal groups involved in kidnapping and armed attacks.
In May 2025, President Bola Tinubu approved the establishment of an armed forest guard unit as part of broader measures to tackle insecurity in remote areas. Later that year, in October, Osatimehin publicly urged the president to sign into law legislation formally establishing the Nigerian Forest Security Service, arguing that a specialised agency was needed to complement existing security operations.
The push for the agency had also received backing from the Senate, which called on the president to assent to the NFSS Bill following its passage by the National Assembly. Lawmakers linked the urgency of the bill to a series of violent incidents, including kidnappings and attacks in several states.
Among the cases cited during legislative deliberations was the abduction of a traditional ruler in Kogi State, as well as deadly attacks on communities in Benue State, incidents that underscored concerns about the growing insecurity in rural and forested areas.
While the arrests of the NFSS officials remain unexplained, the situation adds a new dimension to ongoing discussions about security coordination and the role of emerging agencies in addressing threats across the country.
