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By Akpan David, Calabar
Chairman of Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, John Ewa has threatened to seize the monthly stipends paid to local chiefs in forests communities if they failed to mobilize to stop any form of illegal wood logging or timber activities.
He also gave those involved in the illegal but thriving logging three weeks ultimatum to vacate Boki forests or have their vehicles and all materials used for wood logging confiscated, destroyed and defaulters arrested.
Over two weeks ago, the Biajua community in Boki LGA and neighbouring Abia community in Etung LGA were involved in bloody skirmish over illegal felling and evacuation of woods from Biajua, resulting in several deaths.
In a statement, Ewa accused government agencies and officials of being complicit and also failing the people of Boki.
“Forest management is the primary responsibility of Forestry commission but since this government agency and related authorities have failed us, it is time to rise up, take back our forest and preserve it. I am hopeful that we will all come out to defend our heritage.
“It is worrisome that all Government agencies are compromised and these logging activities are about to cause another round of communal crisis together with the facts that the Boki roads are being damaged by loaded trucks of woods and the Forests are almost gone. As it stands, the only remedy is for the communities of Boki to take this tough responsibility and stop this disaster that has come upon our land before it consumes us.”
He called on stakeholders to join for a 3-day tour of the affected forests communities from 25th to 28th May 2021 to end the illegality, calm frayed nerves and avert further communal bloodshed.
