‎Governor Ayade Orders Arrest Of Forestry Taskforce Members For Theft

By CrossRiverWatch admin

Cross River State Forestry Commission Entrance

Piqued by a United Nations report which indicates that the ‎state forest was being depleted at a rate of over 6 per cent annually, some key staff of the State Forestry Commission and the Anti-Deforestation Taskforce have been arrested on the orders of Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River.

The affected persons were arrested today and may likely face prosecution over theft from the forest should investigation establish their culpability.

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Prior to their arrest, Governor Ayade ‎had met with the Forestry Commission and the Anti Deforestation Taskforce seeking answers as to why the forest that was left in their care was so depleted to the extent that almost 50 per cent of it has so far been stolen.

Dissatisfied with the answers he got, the governor immediately ordered that the Taskforce be disbanded and it’s activities and those of the Commission with regards to the forest management be investigated.

The arrest therefore, is part of an ongoing investigation.

The forest in Cross River is rated as one of 25 bio-diversity hot spots in the world.

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