From Esther Akaa, Lafia
The Chairman, Toto Local Government Area ( LGA) of Nasarawa State, Hon. Aliyu Tashas, has ordered the immediate suspension of all forests activities within the local government area in order to reduce security risks.
According to a statement from Mr. Yahaya Toto, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Chairman of the Toto Local Government Area on Media and Communications, the order became necessary because criminals have made the forests into their safe havens where they kidnap, ambush, and waylay farmers, timber operators, and other innocent citizens.
Tashas revealed that two people were killed in one of the LGA’s forests, saying that the forests had turned into locations where kidnappers keep their victims, demand ransom, and occasionally killed them.
The chairman explained that the LGA Chairman is currently making security arrangements to flush out the bandits and kidnappers, urged the people of the local government to be extra vigilant so as to avoid falling victims of criminals.
” I, therefore appeal to those with genuine businesses in the forests to suspend their activities as the government will not sit by and allow miscreants threaten the peace of the progressive people of Toto LGA,” he said.
He expressed sympathy to the bereaved families, prayed for God to grant them eternal peace and repose, and advised residents to be conscious of their surroundings and report any suspicious people or movements to the appropriate authorities.
