The decision of Ogun State Government to carve–out Oloke-Alli community from Area J4 Forest reserve in Ijebu East Local Government Area of the State has continued to attract reactions from stakeholders in the forestry sub-sector. The Government had last Thursday in a statement by the Commissioner for Forestry, Ayo Olubori announced the decision following incessant restiveness and militancy among some residents of the community which had claimed lives and hinder timber contractors from carrying out their legitimate business. Reacting to the development, the Vice-Chairman, Ijebu Saw Millers and Timber Contractors Association, Mr. Olukayode Anifowose expressed delight over the courage of the present administration to tackle the issue headlong, lamenting that lack of political will by past administrations had led to indiscriminate proliferation of illegal enclaves within the State-owned reserves. Anifowose said with this step, government would be able to block leakages of forest resources and cocoa produce through the Oloke-Alli community which is a porous border town between Ogun and Ondo States and urged that developmental drives be extended to all border towns of the State. Also reacting, a timber contractor, Mr. Nurudeen Adams said he and his colleagues narrowly escaped death from militants of the Community who had turned themselves into warlords. He said government’s action was a welcome development that would enable them carry out their legitimate business without fear of molestation as the militants had been disturbing them for the past 13 years. He tasked government not to rest on its oars, but take steps necessary to improve security measures at the various border points in the State to check external aggression and illegal influx of people.
Source: Insecurity: Ogun Commended For De-Enclaving Oloke-Alli Community (http://www.ogunstate.gov.ng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=631:insecurity-ogun-commended-for-de-enclaving-oloke-alli-community&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=67)