Timber merchants in Ogun State have sounded the alarm over the rampant destruction of economic trees by illegal cocoa farmers in the Omo forest reserves J4, located in Ijebu Ode Local Government Area.
The merchants, under the Ijebu Sawmillers and Timber Contractors Association, have lamented that the state loses over N500 million annually due to the illegal activities of these farmers.
The merchants allege that the illegal cocoa farmers, many of whom are reportedly foreigners from states such as Benue, Edo, Kwara, Osun, Nasarawa, and Ondo, use chemicals to destroy trees planted with World Bank funding, replacing them with cocoa and banana crops.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the association, Aliu Ibrahim, shared his concerns with journalists on Wednesday, revealing that the state has lost eight out of its nine forest reserves due to the illegal farming activities, leaving only the Omo forest reserves J4 intact.
“They are so ruthless to the extent that they are using chemicals to kill most of these economic trees planted with World Bank funding, after which they plant their cocoa and banana,” Ibrahim said.
“Governor Dapo Abiodun must come to our aid. He should order these illegal farmers out of the government forest reserves. Ondo State did the same, and they’ve been able to sanitise their forest reserves.”
The Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Opeoluwa Idowu, noted that the illegal farmers are heavily armed and pose a significant threat to the safety of those trying to protect the forest.
“As an association, we have equally planted these economic trees in about 15 hectares, and these farmers have also been destroying them,” Idowu explained.
“They sometimes mobilise people to attack us. They are always armed with all kinds of dangerous weapons. All of these criminal acts can’t continue as if we don’t have a government.”
Idowu further emphasized that the timber industry in Ogun East senatorial district, specifically in Ijebu and Remo areas, is under threat due to the illegal cocoa farmers.
“The state government is losing over N500 million annually to the activities of these illegal cocoa farmers who are predominantly foreigners,” he added.
Funmileye Akinukawe, the group’s secretary, praised Governor Abiodun and the Commissioner for Forestry, Engr Taiwo Oludotun, for their previous efforts in monitoring the situation but warned that the problem has become more dangerous, with the illegal farmers controlling over 90 percent of the Omo forest reserves.
In response, the Commissioner for Forestry, Engr Taiwo Oludotun, confirmed that the government is aware of the situation and is already taking steps to address the issue.
