BEVERLY HILLS, June 09, (THEWILL) – Piqued by a United Nations report which indicates that the Cross River State forest was being depleted at a rate of over six per cent annually, some key staff of the State Forestry Commission and the Anti-Deforestation Task Force have been arrested on the orders of Governor Ben Ayade.
The affected persons were arrested Monday and may likely face prosecution over the theft of the forest should investigation establish their culpability.
Prior to their arrest, Governor Ayade had met with the Forestry Commission and the Anti Deforestation Task Force seeking answers as to why the forest that was left in their care was so depleted to the extent that almost 50 per cent of it has so far been stolen.
Dissatisfied with the answers he got, the governor immediately ordered that the Task Force be disbanded and its activities and those of the Commission with regards to the forest management be investigated.
The arrest therefore, is part on an ongoing investigation.
The forest in Cross River is rated as one of 25 bio-diversity hotspots in the world.
