The Ogun State Government has warned armed herdsmen who encroach on the Ilaro Forest Reserve and threaten law-abiding citizens to stop such acts.
Commissioner for Forestry Taiwo Oludotun gave the warning on Thursday during a peace meeting with stakeholders from Ilaro, held in Abeokuta.
Oludotun, while calling on the leaders of the herdsmen to be more proactive at ensuring their members keep off the forest reserves, added that the state would no longer fold its arms and watch them threaten law-abiding citizens.
“Government would no longer fold its arms and watch herdsmen threaten law-abiding citizens with dangerous weapons and AK-47 rifles in and around the forest,” he said.
“In the olden days, it was only spears and long sticks that herdsmen were known to carry, unlike nowadays when they handle dangerous weapons when they are not going to the warfront,” he said.
The commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Timothy Olatunji, called for peace and mutual understanding among investors, farmers and other stakeholders within its forest reserves.
He noted that investors are partners in progress, assuring that their interests and investments would be protected.
On his part, a representative of the investors, Bayo Kuyeri of Domedayo Farms, appreciated government for securing their investments and urged farmers to cooperate with them to ensure peace and progress within the forest reserves.
Also speaking, the chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Ado-Odo/Ota, Ipokia and Yewa local government areas, Musa Adams, promised to call his members to order.
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