A special taskforce committee on Environmental Protection, Public Safety, and Prohibition of Deforestation, has uncovered a large charcoal depot in Chedia village, in Wukari local government council of Taraba State.
The discovery, according to the chairman of the taskforce, retired General Jeremiah Aliyu Faransa, was made yesterday, during a routine patrol.
The taskforce estimated that over 3,000 bags of charcoal were stockpiled, awaiting transportation to an unknown destination.
Further investigations, according to him, led the operatives deep into a forest west of Chedia, approximately 10 kilometers away, where they discovered extensive deforestation in blatant violation of Governor Agbu Kefas’ Executive Order suspending all forms of tree felling.
Despite the large-scale environmental destruction, no arrests were made as those responsible were said to have already fled the area.
The taskforce expressed concern over the continued illegal logging, warning that such activities posed severe threat to the state’s ecosystem.
The taskforce has vowed to intensify surveillance efforts and bring those responsible to justice.
