Ogun insists illegal occupants must leave forest reserves 

The Ogun State Commissioner for Forestry, Taiwo Oludotun has debunked media reports suggesting that the state government is behind the brutalising of some farmers in Etemi Gerald, Area J1 of Omo Forest Reserves in Ijebu North Local Government area of the state

Oludotun said that the report was nothing but an attempt to blackmail and discredit the government’s intensified efforts to eject occupants of 17 illegal villages within government-owned forest reserves in the area.

The Commissioner alleged the illegal occupants were destroying the economic trees and the generally preserved biodiversity of the reserves to cultivate cocoa plantations which the government said were criminal acts and condemnable.

Oludotun said this on Tuesday in a press briefing held at the Ministry of Forestry, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Some farmers had alleged that some hoodlums destroyed their cocoa farm and their buildings in the said village because they refused to partake in oath-taking allegedly organised by the head of the village, Abiodun Akinbowale

When contacted for his reaction, the village head, Akinbowale denied organising any oath-taking but said that the state government is in the best position to comment on allegations of destruction of the cocoa plantations.

Speaking during the press briefing, Oludotun said that the government had in December 2023 met the occupants of the 17 illegal enclaves and told them to vacate their villages because they were illegal occupants in the government forest reserves.

He said that the villagers pleaded that the government should give them till 2024 January before any demolition is carried out.

Oludotun explained that “this particular area is called the Queen’s forest inside Area J1 of Omo Forest Reserves covering 1000 hectares and acquired in 1925. It is where we have the Elephant Concession, it is set aside to protect these animals fast going into extinction.

“The reserve was listed as one of the World Forest Heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1977.

“Unfortunately, the inhabitants of Etemi Gerald entered into this natural heritage and illegally built houses, cultivated several hectares of cocoa farms after brazenly destroying economic and conserved tree species preserved for research purposes.”

Oludotun disclosed that all efforts made by the government to dissuade the steady destruction of the prized reserves yielded little or nothing.

He said it was even surprising that some criminal elements in the government reserve constituted themselves into militants and stockpiling arms with which they attack people and security agents.

Oludotun alleged that one of the militant groups is spearheaded by one Akinlolu Kehinde who he said has on many occasions hindered the ministry officials from carrying out their official assignments.

He said “To curtail this menace of continued destruction of economic trees planted with taxpayers’ money, running into billions of Naira, the ministry after a series of warnings, commenced the destruction of illegal farms and structures in the forest reserves.

“One of such was carried out on March 20, 2024. The destruction was done in conjunction with the law enforcement agency, the Nigeria Police.

“During this exercise, the team that went for the operation was fired at by unknown group of militia men hidden in the forest reserve but were subdued by the security team that accompanied the ministry’s officials. A total of 23 illegal buildings were demolished during the exercise.”

The Commissioner alleged that it is one Akinlolu Kehinde that was behind the current campaign of calumny against the government, saying the present administration of Gov Dapo Abiodun was committed to ridding the government forest of all the criminals hiding there.

He said, “This campaign of blackmail against the government is being spearheaded by one Akinlolu Kehinde.

“This is a man who has reported the government to Zone 2 office of Nigeria Police in Lagos State and failed. The case he also instituted against us was struck out. What he failed to get through the police and court is what he is trying to get through misleading reports in the media.”

The Commissioner disclosed that “it beats my imagination that Mr Akinlolu Kehinde could be so bold to the extent of blackmailing a government that is trying its possible best to protect the heritage handed over by our forefathers.”

Oludotun has however vowed that the government remained undeterred and will never rest on its oars until all those hiding in the government reserves to perpetrate all forms of criminal acts are sent packing.