Deforestation: Bogoro LG chairman talks tough, warn against indiscriminate tree felling

By Samuel Luka, Bauchi

The Executive Chairman of Bogoro local government area of Bauchi state, Hon Habila Iliya has warned tree fellers to relocate from the area or have themselves to blame.

Hon Iliya who was reacting to some pockets of tree felling in Gobbiya and Gargari forest in the local government, said that the law will severely deal with any one caught in the act of cutting down trees.

“Despite repeated warnings by government and experts on the dangers of indiscriminate tree felling, the ugly trend is rearing its head in Gobbiya and Gargare villages of Bogoro local government area, this is unacceptable”, the Chairman said.

“I am warning those who have develop the habit of cutting down trees indiscriminately, causing deforestation along the Gobbiya, Gargare axis up to Ginzim to desist from doing so for the sake posterity, for the sake of sustainable environment and for the sake of their children and the ones yet to be borned”, Hon Iliya fumes.

He further said; “I have been to the area myself on supervision where I even ordered for the arrest of those engaged in fire wood business and even warned Communities in that axis and staff that conspires to cut down our trees to desist from it”.

Hon Iliya informed that five suspects were arrested by the security last week in connection to indiscriminate tree felling including the acting Hamlet head of Gargare.

“We cannot afford deflating our environment, we cannot afford to destroy the future of our children and the generation unborn most especially now that the effect of climate change is glaring.

Hon Iliya who said necessary measures have been taken to stop the unwholesome activities commended a good citizen who recently reported the case to the local government.

“Few days ago, a concerned citizen came to the local government Secretariat with gory images of trees that were cut down indiscriminately in Gobbiya and Gargari villages of the local government”, the chairman said.

“With deep concern over this unwanted act of cutting down trees, I want to draw the attention of all that government will not tolerate or watch some people drag us to deforestation of which consequences is desert encroachment”, he warned.

“When I received the report I quickly sent security personnel to the area and they arrested some of the tree fellers.

“Just last rainy season we engaged on massive tree planting in Bogoro where we planted over 40,000 trees, both economic and non economic and we also encouraged Communities to also plant trees and nurture them for the sustainability of our environment”, the chairman said.