The Ogun State Government has detected and ordered an immediate demolition of an illegal flyover bridge undergoing construction across Oluwa River, a boundary between Omo forest, Area J4 in Ijebu East and Ondo State.
A statement by the Information Officer of the ministry, Soji Solarin, over the weekend stated that the Commissioner for Forestry, Tunji Akinosi led a monitoring team to Laagan Village, where the unauthorised construction of about 50 meters long bridge was located.
The commissioner ordered the settlers to pull it down within two weeks before the next monitoring exercise that would come up on the 21st of January.
Akinosi said aims and objectives behind the heinous act, was for easy transportation of the State’s forest resources by illegal loggers and flitches production, called ‘Alamole’, to be freely stolen and taken away to neighbouring States.
He pointed out that the present administration would not fold its arms and allow illegal settlers to take over the forest reserve, adding that some unscrupulous elements were behind the illegal construction which must have gulped about 15 to 20 million naira.
The Commissioner noted that many of the settlers who keep illegal arms to perpetrate crimes would be arrested and charged to court, saying, armed soldiers would remain part of the frequent monitoring exercises in order to prevent banditry which is becoming prevalent nationwide.
