Ogun govt moves against illegal operators in forest reserves

…impounds timber trucks, tractor, others

Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta

Ogun State government said it has began a crack down on the illegal operators pillaging its forest reserves resources saying that anyone caught indulging in this economic sabotage activities would not only be dealt with according to the provision of the law but also have whatever tools used for such illegality impounded and forfeited to the government.

The Commissioner for Forestry, Hon. Tunji Akinosi stated this while showing journalists two timber trucks, tractor, three machines used for felling tree, motorcycles among others seized from some illegal operators said to still be at large.

Akinosi said all items seized during illegal felling would be auctioned, adding that government had intensified monitoring in reserves to stamp out unwholesome activities.

He said State’s revenue being illegally taken out as flitches from the forests to neighbouring States would not be allowed to thrive any longer.

On the illegal bridge recently discovered in Alaagan, J4 Forest Reserve, the Commissioner said there were three official legal points of entry from the reserve into Ondo State, noting that it was wrong for people living in the enclaves to construct any bridge or road inside the forest reserve.

He said that the motive behind the illegal bridge construction, was to steal woods and other forest resources and transport them through unofficial routes to Ondo and Osun States.