The National Park Service (NPS) in Abuja, on Sunday, said a logging kingpin and two others had been arrested at the Okomu National Park in Edo.

A statement by the conservator, Park Service Public Relations Officer (PRO) Emmanuel Ntuyang, said the arrest was made following a reinforced anti-poaching patrol in the Julius Creek Range in the western axis of the park.

“Following the reinforced intensive anti-poaching patrol activities in Okomu National Park in Edo, a logging kingpin, Kehinde Hassan, alias Alfa, and two others, Adeoye Tajudeen and Uba Okechukwu, have been arrested in the park.

“Parading the suspects at the park’s head office in Edo, the conservator of the park, Lawrence Osaze, assured that the efforts to rid the park of all forms of illegal activities would be sustained through the vigilance, doggedness, and dedication of Park Rangers,” Mr Ntuyang noted.

According to the PRO, Mr Osaze said the park management has zero tolerance for encroachment.

“Speaking recently in Abuja, the conservator-general, Ibrahim Goni, called for public support in the fight against illegal poaching in the national parks and trafficking of endangered species.

“He reiterated the commitment of the service to protecting the country’s forest estate and building a climate-resilient environment across the national parks and the country at large, as this has become existential.

“The suspects who have been charged to the Iquobazua Magistrate Court with conspiracy for illegal entry, logging and altering the vegetation of the lark, in line with the NPS enabling law, have since been remanded in the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Benin City,” Mr Ntuyang said.

He added, “Items recovered from the suspects include two lorry loads of timber.”

(NAN)