By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has warned against illegal activities in the forests, saying that nobody has the right to trespass into the forest reserves in the state and do things that are inimical to public health, public welfare, and public interest.

Speaking while playing host to members of Okpamakhin Initiative, who paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Benin City, Governor Oshiomhole said government must always be on the side of the people, and if individuals abuse public interest, it was the duty of government to call such individuals to order.

He said: “I have carried out investigations on your complaint and I found that like you rightly said, the land that was given to Iyayi was purely for him to regenerate and to farm, not to sublet, not to talk of selling it to another party. But we have since revoked it, and I have ordered that Okomu should be stopped from planting or interfering because there is a public authority, there is a public interest.”