AIYEDATIWA GIVES CRIMINALS 14-DAY ULTIMATUM TO VACATE ONDO FORESTS

Ondo State Governor, Lucky  Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to kidnappers and other criminal elements operating in the state’s forest reserves to vacate the area or face security action.

The ultimatum was disclosed  by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Forestry, Mr Bidemi Obayangban, during an interview with journalists in Akure.

Obayangban said the directive formed part of the administration’s efforts to secure the state’s forest reserves and create a conducive environment for legitimate economic activities.

He said the government would not allow criminal activities in the forests to undermine its plans to develop the forestry sector and attract investors.

According to him, the administration was working with security agencies and hunters across the state to restore security to the forest reserves.

He said the government had concluded plans to tackle kidnapping and other forms of criminality within the forests.

“Consequently, the primary focus of the Aiyedatiwa administration is to flush out criminal elements from our forests. We are taking the battle directly to them,” Obayangban said.

He added that the government was committed to eliminating kidnapping and other illegal activities threatening the safety of farmers, investors, timber contractors and other legitimate users of the forest reserves.

Obayangban said Aiyedatiwa had adopted a discreet but action-driven approach to security matters, stressing that the government would reclaim the forests from criminal elements.

He stated, “I am using this opportunity to announce that the state government is giving these individuals 14 days to vacate Ondo State forests.

“Failure to comply will result in them meeting their Waterloo.”

The governor’s aide further explained that securing the forest reserves was central to the administration’s plan to revitalise the forestry sector and promote economic activities across the state.

He noted that sustainable economic development would be difficult to achieve if farmers, investors and other legitimate operators continued to face security threats in the forests.