Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has given kidnappers and other criminal elements operating in the state’s forest reserves a 14-day ultimatum to vacate the forests or face government action.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Forestry, Bidemi Obayangban, disclosed this on Wednesday in Akure during an interview with newsmen, saying the directive was part of the administration’s efforts to restore security and create a safe environment for legitimate economic activities across the state.
According to Obayangban, the governor’s directive was specifically targeted at criminals using the forests as hideouts, particularly kidnappers and other individuals involved in illegal activities.
He said the government’s plans to develop the forestry sector and attract investors could not succeed without adequate security for farmers, timber contractors, investors and other legitimate operators.
“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,” Obayangban said.
He explained that the state government had concluded plans to tackle kidnapping and other criminal activities within the forest reserves, adding that security agencies and hunters across the state were collaborating with the government to reclaim the forests.
“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.
“The government is fully committed to this objective and has finalised comprehensive plans to eliminate kidnapping and other illegal activities within our borders,” he said.
Obayangban said the governor had adopted a discreet but action-oriented approach to security matters, stressing that the administration remained determined to restore the forests to legitimate users.
“I am using this opportunity to announce that the state government is giving these individuals 14 days to vacate Ondo State forests.
“Failure to comply will result in them meeting their Waterloo,” he warned.
He added that restoring security to the forests was central to the government’s broader plan to revitalise the forestry sector and encourage legitimate economic activities.
According to him, sustainable economic growth would remain difficult to achieve if farmers, investors and other legitimate operators continued to face security threats in the state’s forest reserves.
