Group calls on Gov Ikpebholo, security chiefs to probe Mgt of Okomu Nat’l Park for conniving with criminals for illegal logging, hails seizure of stolen logs

By Osaro Michael, Benin

The Concerned Sons and Daughters of Riverine Communities in Edo State have accused the Management of Okomu National Park of conniving with suspected criminals in the area to penetrate illegal logging in the park.

The group, in a statement signed by its national coordinator HON. OGIDIGBA GODSTIME and HON. EZEKIEL DANIEL has called on the governor of the state, His Excellency Monday Ikpebholo, IGP, Chief of Army Staff, minister of environment, DSS and AIG zone 5 and other relevant security authorities to swing into action to stop the menace which is aimed to destroy the park following a violation of the government directive by criminal elements.

It would be recalled that the group had earlier raised alarms that some suspected criminals and saw millers collected two Billion Naira (N2, 000, 000, 000.00) from Lorry Owners and Timber Buyers to facilitate the purchase and evacuation of timber logs from Okomu National Park Reserve of which Government both at the State and Federal levels were called to prevailed and put a stop to the proposed illegal evacuation which was to start on the 20th Day of January 2025.

According to the statement of the concerned Edolites, despite directive from Government at the State and Federal levels to stop the proposed Evacuation, one unrepentant Militant Leader from Inikorogha Community and sawmillers flouted the Government’s directive and went ahead with the evacuation through back route call Asamara Road, citing that on the 27th Day of January, 2025, Luck ran against them, when rangers of the Okomu National Park and ANI Foundation were on Joint Patrol apprehended two Lorries loaded with timber logs and were taken to the National Park Headquarters Udo Ovia South West L.G.A, Edo State.

The group alleged that the suspected criminal head and saw millers have evacuated over one thousand pieces of timber logs to Benin City, Edo State through the back route, adding that they had moved over one thousand timber logs to Delta State through the River and over seven hundred logs to Ondo State through the waterways, without paying a dine as revenue to either Edo State Internally Generated Revenue (I.G.R) board or the National Park Office, stressing that no court order, no Seizure harmer, no release harmer were stamped on the logs.

The group emphasised that the said criminal gang leader had kept on boosting that he is the Governor of the riverine area and always put it to practice, by violating government orders. The concerned individuals insisted that no state is governed by two governors, noting that the state governor Senator Monday Ikpebholo should help to curtail the excesses of such persons disrespecting the highly respected office of the governor of the state.

According to them, the claimants of the two Lorries arrested by ANI Foundation and Rangers of the Okomu National Park Reserve said the timber logs were not from the park, but they insisted that the claimants should show the government the stumps where these trees were cut from.

However, the group further called on the Hon. Minister for Environment FCT Abuja, permanent secretary for Environment Edo State, chairman forestry commission Edo State, commissioner of Police Edo State Command, Department of State Security Service (D.S.S) Edo State Command, Commander 4 brigade Edo State Command, Officer in charge of Nigeria Marine Police Edo State Command,
The Divisional Police Officer (D.P.O) Iguobazuwa Ovia South West L.G.A Edo State, Chairman Senate Committee on Environment National Assembly Complex F.C.T Abuja, Chairman House Committee on Environment National Assembly Complex F.C.T Abuja and
the Director General, Nigerian National Park Services F.C.T Abuja to prevail and brought the said criminal gang leader and his cohorts in the area to book to show a deterrent to others who may want to be involved in such criminal activities in the future.