By James Ogunnaike

A group of timber dealers in Ogun State, under the aegis of Ijebu Samillers and Timber Contractors Association, has raised an alarm over the growing destructive activities of some illegal cocoa farmers, who they alleged to have destroyed economic trees in Omo forest reserves at Area J4, to pave way for their cocoa plantation.

The association said the state government is losing over N500 million annually, to the criminal acts of these illegal cocoa farmers.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the association, Pa Aliu Ibrahim, who disclosed this in a chat with newsmen in Abeokuta, claimed that 90 per cent of these illegal cocoa farmers who go about with dangerous weapons were indigenes of Benue, Edo, Kwara, Osun, Nasarawa and Ondo states among others.

He noted that during the administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the illegal farmers were sent away from all forest reserves in the state, but as soon as Daniel left office in 2011, they all returned and increased in numbers constituting great threat to the security and economy of the state.

While describing the nefarious activities of these illegal cocoa farmers as disturbing development, Ibrahim noted that the government should not handle the matter with levity.

He said: “The state initially has nine forest reserves, but due to the activities of these illegal cocoa farmers, the reserves had been reduced to only the Omo forest reserves in Area J4, which is almost being taken over by the illegal cocoa farmers”.

“They are so ruthless to the extent that they are using chemicals to kill most of these economic trees planted with World Bank funding after which they will plant their cocoa and banana.

“Governor Dapo Abiodun must come to our aid, he should order these illegal farmers out of the government forest reserves. Ondo State did same and they have been able to sanitise their forest reserves.
“These people are not powerful than the government. Our means of livelihood are under serious threat. The governor should please rise up to this challenge.

“I need to also add that these illegal cocoa farmers have no stakes in our local politics in the state, they are foreigners and during election period, you see them going back to their different states to vote, so they are contributing nothing to our politics, they are nothing but parasites”.

On his part, the Secretary, Board of Trustees of the association, Mr Opeoluwa Idowu, said the state government should emulate its Ondo State counterpart and demonstrate decisive and firm commitment to end the nefarious activities of these illegal cocoa farmers by flushing them out of the Omo forest reserves.

Idowu, who is also the President of Sawmillers Association of Ogun State, said that one cannot but get sad and annoyed at the level of the ongoing criminal activities and wanton destruction.

He said: “As an association, we have equally planted these economic trees in about 15 hectares and these farmers have also been destroying them. They sometimes mobilise people to attack us, they are always armed with all kinds of dangerous weapons. All of these criminal acts cannot continue as if we don’t have a government”.

“The state government is losing over N500m annually to the activities of these illegal cocoa farmers who are predominantly foreigners.

“Out of the initial nine enclaves that the government approved for people to be living inside these forest reserves, we now have over 200 illegal enclaves or communities. This is not acceptable. Now is the time for the government to send these people packing.

“The chemicals these farmers are using to kill these economic trees is causing significant harm to the eco system. The endangered animals like the elephants have been chased away. We are all aware of the problem of climate change which is aggravated by deforestation. So, the government just have to rise up to this challenge.”

Also speaking, the Secretary of the group, Pastor Funmileye Akinukawe, said the problem is now assuming a dangerous dimension with these set of farmers taking over 90 percent of the Omo forest reserve.

He revealed that the licensed timber contractors generated over N900m to the coffers of the state government last year, whereas these illegal cocoa farmers usually ferry their produce to neighbouring states like Osun and Ondo to sell, causing great revenue loss to the government.

Akinukawe said: “It is worrisome that these illegal cocoa farmers are doing everything to turn the forest into Sambisa forest, because these farmers are always bringing in weapons.

“It is even surprising that the governor ordered the farmers to leave in the past, but they refused. We have equally written to Governor Abiodun on these dangerous trends. We sincerely plead with him to rise and help us and protect this our collective heritage from being destroyed by these illegal farmers”.

The Treasurer of the association, Mr Thomas Dehinbo, urged Governor Abiodun to send the illegal farmers to various farm settlements across the state which were established years back for planting of both food and cash crops.

Dehinbo pleaded with the governor not to waste further time to wield his big stick on the farmers.

We’ll address the challenge—Ogun govt

When contacted, the Commissioner for Forestry, Engr Taiwo Oludotun, said that the government is aware of the situation and it is already taking steps to address the challenge.
Oludotun said: “The government is aware of this challenge and we are already working on it”.