By: Sola Obagbemisoye
Ondo state Government in partnership with a human rights group, Active Success and Empowerment Initiative (ASEI) are set to flush out all local Chiefs otherwise known as Olus and illegal settlers in it’s forest reserves
This follows series of negative reports and allegations against the self imposed Olus taking undue advantage of wood contractors operating within the forest reserves.
In a letter titled “Authorization to Proceed on Lawful Arrest & Prosecution of Persons Disguising As Traditional Rulers Referred as Olus Within Government Forest Reserves” government described the activities of the self imposed Olus as inimical to the future economic progress & survival of the state.
According to the approval, the impostors have not only impersonated the state government but extorting & milking timber merchants doing legitimate business with government dry.
The Olus in conniviance with the illegal settlers were also accused of arrogating to themselves powers to allocate forest reserves to enchroachers & collecting illegal fees from them while geniue timber merchants who refuses to transact business with them are being molested and dehumanized.
Worried by these serious infractions on the rights and privileges of timbers contractors in the state, a human rights group, Active Success & Empowerment Initiative based in Akure filed a petition on behalf of an accredited timber feller, Mr. Omoniyi Aro who was allegedly assaulted by some illegal settlers under the instruction of one of the Olus.
In the petition signed by barrister N.M. Ogungbemi, the victim narrated how he was tied to the tree in the forest at gun point and given the beating of his life before his logs worth millions of naira were seized and transported to an unknown destination.
The National President of the Human Rights Group, Prince Adewumi Babalola while commending the favorable disposition of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN to the rule of law and speedy dispensation of justice said, the approval will return sanity to all the sixteen forest reserves in the state.
He therefore assured all the parties involved in the matter that ASEJ will carry out the assignment with utmost caution and professionalism.
