As one of the oldest cities in Nigeria, Benin City is also the industrial and commercial center of the south. At the same time, due to the surrounding forests, there are a large number of primeval forest reserves, and a large number of precious tropical trees such as ebony, peach blossom heart, and ironwood unique to Africa are growing here.
Back in 2005, Nigeria set an astonishing record for timber deforestation, becoming the country with the highest rate of deforestation on the UNFA's rating list. It is overgrown with trees, but it also attracts a large number of poachers. At the same time, Benin is located in the coastal area of Nigeria, with a large number of seaports and transportation resources, which also makes timber theft more rampant.
Recently, Bello Kontongs, a spokesman for the local state police command, revealed that 2,000 pieces of timber had been confiscated in the Gelegele seaport. "In the harbour, there is a large amount of log timber seized from illegal loggers. The 2,000 log seizures were completed on the orders of Governor Godwin Opersky after Police Chief Philip Ogbadu arrested and examined the activities of these criminals. The state government has banned the felling of trees in 49 forest reserves in the state. But the timber is still being illegally shipped around the world. This is against the state government, forest reserves are for the benefit of all. ”
Contons said the loggers abandoned the 2,000 logs and jumped into a river in Gelegele's harbor to evade arrest. When they were seized, the logs were destined for Lagos State, where they wanted to conduct illegal global trade. Now, after recycling, this wood will be handed over to the state government in due course.