The Abia State government has threatened to hold the forest guards responsible for any further illegal felling of trees and stealing of logs from the forest reserves.
The commissioner for environment, Philamon Ogbonna stated this while showing newsmen logs of woods impounded from illegal loggers by the ministry in Umuahia, the state capital.
Condemning the act, he explained that the logs were impounded from the illegal loggers in Ukpo Forest Reserve in Bende local government following intelligence reports
“Sequel to this, the government has through the ministry beefed up security in the forests and anyone caught in the act will be duly prosecuted irrespective of person,” he said.
Ogbonna, who described illegal logging as a serious security threat and economic sabotage, added that it had been causing the government huge revenue losses.
He also expressed sadness that they were occurring when there are growing concerns for deforestation, climate change and other environmental challenges in the state.
The commissioner, therefore, urged residents of the state to partner and support the government to stop the illegal loggers and their sponsors.
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