The Ogun State Government has asked 17 communities in Ijebu-East/North Local Government Area of the state to vacate the elephant conservation area in the Omo Forest Reserve.

The communities, whom the government tagged “illegal farmers and timber contractors” were ordered to vacate the area on or before January 15, 2024.

The state Commissioner for Forestry, Engr Taiwo Oludotun, gave the order during a meeting with farmers, village heads and timber contractors at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Oludotun, through a release by the Press Officer, Ministry of Forestry, Luke Adebesin, on Wednesday, accused the 17 communities of encroaching on the buffer zones of the forest reserve.

According to the Commissioner, “the 17 communities are: Eseke, Tamitami, Bridge, Korede, Fatai, Sojukorodo, Etemi- Gerade, Onigburugburu, Erifun, Aba Alhaja, Erimogan, Ologunna, Ori Apata, Imaba, Apora, Fatai 2 and Yomi Iga”.

Oludotun pointed out that planting cocoa seedlings within the state’s forest reserves was illegal, warning that any cocoa seedlings found within the forest after the exit date would be duly sanctioned.

“The state Ministry of Forestry will not fold its arm and allow illegalities to continue within its forest reserves, any timber contractor found to be involved in cocoa plantation within the reserves, the government property hammer of such contractor will be withdrawn’’, he said.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Timothy Olatunji, had called on timber contractors to cooperate with the Ministry to put an end to “the unwholesome activities within the forest reserves.”

Also, the representatives of timber contractors, Hon. Kunle Kalejaye and Alhaja Ranti Bambi, were said to have expressed dismay at the violation of government’s directive by some miscreants, promising to complement the Ministry’s efforts in curbing the illicit act.

(The PUNCH)

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