30th March, 2012
The Ogun State Government has warned that the full weight of the law will be visited on any individual or groups caught felling trees illegally in its forest reserves regardless of the status of such offender.
The State Commissioner for Forestry, Alhaji Falilu Sabitu gave the warning Friday in Ijebu-Igbo in Ijebu North local government area of Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria, while inspecting four trucks impounded by forest guards at Ijebu-Igbo Police Station.
The trucks with registration numbers AY 345 LND, AE 350 SAP, YB 987 DDA and XA 838 SGM were fully loaded with planks and seized while they were trying to escape to a neighbouring state.
The commissioner told the perpetrators of the illegal act to desist from it as they will always be caught, adding that security measures were being put in place in all the nine forest reserves in the state to stop the nefarious activities.
He stated that the present administration will not fold its arms and watch some unscrupulous elements who are mostly from neighbouring states destroy the investment of Ogun state which is the heritage to bequeath to generations yet unborn.
He thanked the police at the Ijebu Igbo police station for a job well done and urged them not to rest on their oars.
Meanwhile, the commissioner has ordered the immediate closure of Awoniyi sawmill in Isara- Remo in Remo North local government area of the state for operating illegally in the state.
He directed that the sawmill be sealed off until the owner obtains necessary approval and license from the state government.
By Abiodun Onafuye/ Abeokuta