By Musa Yaro, Calabar
Cross River State Government intercepted 32 trucks loaded with illegal timber at the border community with Ebonyi State on Monday.
The State governor, Prince Bassey Otu while speaking during an on-the- spot-inspection of the trucks said his administration will not relent in its commitment to fighting illegal logging and other State environmental activities in the state.
Otu, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar, at the scene of the seized trucks at Ejiraga in Yala Local Government of the state, warned all illegal loggers to use the window of opportunity offered by the government to regularize their operations in the state.
He decried the devastation to the rich biodiversity of the state by the criminal logging of the forest reserves in Cross River, warning of stiff penalties against the perpetrators.
He said the impounding of the 32 trucks is a demonstration of his government’s determination to match words with action.
Commending the Anti-deforestation Committee for their prompt action, he enjoined forest-bearing communities to assist the government by providing vital information to assigned agencies and desisting from assisting illegal loggers and wildlife poachers, and smugglers.
The governor further directed all owners of the seized trucks with illegally sawn timber/logs to report to the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Cross River State Forestry Commission, within 7 days.
Otu also remarked that failure to adhere to this directive will lead to the final confiscation and auction of the impounded trucks and timbers.
