Timber merchants in Ogun State have expressed concern about the incessant destruction of economic trees by illegal cocoa farmers in Omo forest reserves J4 in Ijebu Ode local government area of the state.
The merchants under the auspices of Ijebu Sawmillers and Timber Contractors Association lamented that the state government is losing over N500 million annually as the illegal cocoa farmers uses chemicals to kill most of the economic trees planted with World Bank funding after which they plant cocoa and banana.
They alleged that 90 percent of the illicit cocoa farmers that commit crimes in the forest reserves of Ijebu East LGA are foreigners from states such as Benue, Edo, Kwara, Osun, Nasarawa and Ondo.
Chairman, Board of Trustees of the association, Aliu Ibrahim who disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday, explained that the state has lost eight out of nine forest reserves to the illegal activities and is left with just the Omo forest reserves J4.
He said, “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 will plant their cocoa and banana.
“Governor Dapo Abiodun must come to our aid, he should order these illegal farmers out of the government forest reserves, Ondo State did same and they have been able to sanitise their forest reserves.”