The Ondo State Government has given criminals operating in the state’s forest reserves 14 days to vacate the forests.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Forestry, Bidemi Obayangban, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Wednesday in Akure.
He said the directive targets kidnappers and other criminals who use the forests as hideouts.
Obayangban said the move forms part of the government’s efforts to improve security across the state.
He said the government also wants to create a safer environment for legitimate economic activities.
Government Targets Criminal Activities
Obayangban said security remains critical to the state’s plans to develop its forestry sector.
He added that a secure environment would help attract investors to the sector.
“A vision without maximum security to ensure the safety of investors, farmers, timber contractors and those conducting legitimate business across Ondo State’s forest reserves is effectively meaningless,” he said.
The forestry aide said the administration had concluded plans to tackle kidnapping and other criminal activities in the forests.
He said security agencies and hunters across the state were working with the government to restore security to the forest reserves.
“Consequently, the primary focus of the Aiyedatiwa administration is to flush out criminal elements from our forests. We are taking the battle directly to them,” he said.
Obayangban said the government had finalised plans to tackle kidnapping and other illegal activities across the state.
He said the governor preferred a discreet and action-oriented approach to security matters.
However, he stressed that the administration remained determined to reclaim the forests from criminal elements.
14-Day Deadline
Obayangban announced the 14-day deadline while explaining the government’s security plans.
“I am using this opportunity to announce that the state government is giving these individuals 14 days to vacate Ondo State forests,” he said.
He warned that those who failed to comply would face government action.
“Failure to comply will result in them meeting their Waterloo,” Obayangban said.
The government said restoring security in the forests would support its broader plan to revitalise the forestry sector.
Obayangban said the administration also wants to promote legitimate economic activities in the forest reserves.
He said sustainable economic growth would remain difficult without adequate security.
According to him, the government must protect farmers, investors, timber contractors and other legitimate operators working across the state’s forests.
