A collective of environment and ecology-focused civil society organizations in Cross River State, WE THE PEOPLE have called on His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, Governor-Elect, Cross River State to help curb deforestation in the state as he assumes office on May 29, 2023.
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The call was made on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Calabar while speaking with journalists on the unprecedented illegal logging activities going on in the state.
The Executive Director of WE THE PEOPLE, Ken Henshaw stated that they are confident that under the leadership of Otu, and given the political will, the escalating threat of deforestation as well as the gaps and challenges associated with existing government responses can be fixed.
He said the ban on logging exacerbated illegal logging, adding that “In recent times, the illicit timber trade has become even more sinister, with the emergence of well-armed and connected cartels with links to foreign nationals of Chinese extraction, rampaging the forests.
“The illegal timber trade has exacerbated insecurity in Cross River State. To facilitate the theft of forest resources, the state has seen the emergence of an armed cartel of ‘Crossers’ who take responsibility for arranging consignments of timber from the forest, and conveying them to designated destinations outside the state.”
“Their rank consists of thugs and militants armed with illegal firearms, deployed to intimidate, terrorize and maim forest protection agents and community vigilante groups that they perceive as threats to their operations.”
“Their operation has led to the proliferation of small and light arms which have found their way into the commission of other crimes including robberies and kidnappings. On several occasions, ‘Crossers’ are known to have attacked community members, volunteer groups, and task force members who prevent illegal extraction and transportation of timber products.”
“The illicit timber trade has expanded to include foreign (Chinese) interest as well as international dimensions. Endangered species of wood are illegally extracted from forests and exported overseas.” He added.
Mr. Odigha Odigha, BOT Chairman, of NGO Coalition for Environment (NGOCE), said that the spate of deforestation in the state has rather intensified. Odigha added that the situation has become alarming where logs are openly processed into various sizes, loaded onto trucks, and transported to destinations within and outside the state.
He, therefore, called on the incoming governor to read the ‘riot act’ to those destroying the forests, and clearly state his preference for preserving the Cross River State forests.
Dr. Oliver noted that the biggest threat to the forests of Cross River State is from illegal logging, adding that Cross River State’s timber industry was complicit in the illegal felling of trees, with logs then smuggled out of the state and processed and exported to other parts of the country and beyond.
Oliver stated that they are willing to work with the new administration in combating the enormous ecological and economic sabotage of the state.
The Executive Director of WE THE PEOPLE, Ken Henshaw stated that they are confident that under the leadership of Otu, and given the political will, the escalating threat of deforestation as well as the gaps and challenges associated with existing government responses can be fixed.
He said the ban on logging exacerbated illegal logging, adding that “In recent times, the illicit timber trade has become even more sinister, with the emergence of well-armed and connected cartels with links to foreign nationals of Chinese extraction, rampaging the forests.
“The illegal timber trade has exacerbated insecurity in Cross River State. To facilitate the theft of forest resources, the state has seen the emergence of an armed cartel of ‘Crossers’ who take responsibility for arranging consignments of timber from the forest, and conveying them to designated destinations outside the state.”
“Their rank consists of thugs and militants armed with illegal firearms, deployed to intimidate, terrorize and maim forest protection agents and community vigilante groups that they perceive as threats to their operations.”
“Their operation has led to the proliferation of small and light arms which have found their way into the commission of other crimes including robberies and kidnappings. On several occasions, ‘Crossers’ are known to have attacked community members, volunteer groups, and task force members who prevent illegal extraction and transportation of timber products.”
“The illicit timber trade has expanded to include foreign (Chinese) interest as well as international dimensions. Endangered species of wood are illegally extracted from forests and exported overseas.” He added.
Mr. Odigha Odigha, BOT Chairman, of NGO Coalition for Environment (NGOCE), said that the spate of deforestation in the state has rather intensified. Odigha added that the situation has become alarming where logs are openly processed into various sizes, loaded onto trucks, and transported to destinations within and outside the state.
He, therefore, called on the incoming governor to read the ‘riot act’ to those destroying the forests, and clearly state his preference for preserving the Cross River State forests.
Dr. Oliver noted that the biggest threat to the forests of Cross River State is from illegal logging, adding that Cross River State’s timber industry was complicit in the illegal felling of trees, with logs then smuggled out of the state and processed and exported to other parts of the country and beyond.
Oliver stated that they are willing to work with the new administration in combating the enormous ecological and economic sabotage of the state.
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