The Ogun State Government has urged the armed herders that invade the Ilaro Forest Reserve and threaten law-abiding communities to leave their actions.
Taiwo Oludotun, the Commissioner for Forestry, gave this warning on Thursday during a peace meeting with Ilaro stakeholders in Abeokuta.
Oludotun, while urging herdsmen leaders to be more aggressive in ensuring their followers stay out of forest reserves, also stated that the state would no longer fold its hands and watch them threaten law-abiding citizens.
“Government would no longer fold its arms and watch herdsmen threaten law-abiding citizens with dangerous weapons and AK-47 rifles in and around the forest,” he told reporters.
“The herdsmen, as one knew them in the olden days, only spears and long sticks that they were known to carry, unlike nowadays when they handle dangerous weapons when they are not going to the warfront,” he said.
The commissioner, who was represented by Permanent Secretary Timothy Olatunji, appealed for peace and mutual understanding among investors, farmers, and other stakeholders in the forest reserves.
He said investors are partners in progress, who ensure that their interest and investments are preserved.
A spokesman for the investors, Bayo Kuyeri of Domedayo Farms thanked government for protecting their investments and implored farmers to co-operate with them so that there can be peace and development in the forest reserves.
Musa Adams, chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association for Ado-Odo/Ota, Ipokia, and Yewa local government areas also did some talking and promised he would call his people to order.
