Two Arrested For Illegal Tree Cutting In Ogun Forest Reserve

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested two suspects for illegally cutting down trees in the Olokemeji Forest Reserve.

The state police spokesperson Omolola Odutola disclosed this on Sunday, stating that the arrests followed a report from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Forestry Department.

“On February 7, 2025, at approximately 1:20 PM, Dr. Basiru Adeniyi, a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Forestry Department in Abeokuta, Ogun State, reported to the station that two individuals were observed illegally cutting down some economic trees owned by Ogun State government at the Olokemeji reserve.

“Upon receiving the report, detectives were mobilised to accompany the foresters to the site. The two suspects were subsequently arrested and brought to the station,” she said.

Odutola revealed that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and that efforts are ongoing to capture the key individuals involved in this illegal activity.

The statement read, “The suspects have been identified as Alex Monday, a 35-year-old male, and Monday James, a 19-year-old male. During interrogation, they confessed to the crime, revealing that they were brought to the forestry reserves by an individual named Udor James, with the permission of a local leader known as Baale Agbe, whose real name is unknown, and another individual named Lukmon, whose surname is also unknown.

“The estimated value of the felled trees has yet to be determined, but it is projected to be around 55 tons. The suspects are currently being held for further investigation, and efforts are underway to apprehend the key individuals involved in this illegal activity. Photographs have been taken as part of the investigation, which is being conducted.”

PUNCH Metro reports that the Ogun State Government arrested four illegal tree cutters and seized 19 truckloads of logs during the lockdown at the J1 area in the Ijebu-Igbo Local Government Area of the state.

Source:- Punchng