Marine police intercepts over 213 logs of woods at Gelegele seaport

Segun Oladipiupo

Marine police has intercepted over 213 logs of wood at the Gelegele seaport in Edo state as part of efforts to rid the state of illegal loggers.

The state police spokesman, Superintendent of Police (SP) Bello Kontongs said the loggers escaped by jumping into the river.

Kontongs added that the logs were being shipped to Lagos State for onward transmission to other parts of the world.

He said the logs that were intercepted in Ondo State would be sent back to Edo State.

His words, “At the seaport here are the logs of wood seized from illegal loggers. The 2,000 log seizure was done after Governor Godwin Obaseki gave an order to the Commissioner of Police, Philip Ogbadu, to arrest and check the activities of these criminals.

“The state government has banned the felling of trees in the 49 forest reserves in the state.

“The wood is being taken illegally to all parts of the world, which the state government is against. The forest reserves are for the benefit of all Edo people.

“Also, the illegal activities of these loggers are impacting negatively on wildlife. The recovered logs will be handed over to the state government by the CP in due cours