Tough time awaits forest encroachers 'Ondo govt

The Ondo State government has said that tough time now awaits forest encroachers in the state as it was poised to flush out illegal timber operators from the state.The Commissioner for Natural Resources, Laisis Oluboyo, who said this in Akure, also said at least, five persons had been arrested in the government reserve in Owo with the support of the Timber Traders Association.He said the suspected encroachers had been handed over to the task force set up by the ministry on forest and reserve encroachment.According to him, the present administration in the state was determined to combat encroachers operating in the state forest reserves.The commissioner lamented that the activities of encroachers had robbed the state of huge revenue that would have accrued to it from timber operations.Apart from this, Oluboyo added that many economic trees in the reserves had been fell by the people without considering the effect that such act might have on the state, particularly as it concerns climate change.He said government was prepared to enforce the laws guiding the opillegal activities in the forest.He, however, said the five persons arrested for encroaching the state forest reserve had been arraigned before an Akure Magistrate Court over the act.
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