Ilorin — Fifteen Niger Republic nationals have been apprehended in Kwara State over alleged involvement in illegal felling of trees.

Speaking on the development, yesterday, Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Mr. Kayode Towoju, commended the new Forestry Monitoring Committee for apprehending the suspects.

He noted that the state government had invested on sensitisation campaigns against misuse of the forest reserves, which had caused climatic challenges in the state.

Towoju said that economic trees like Bombas (Ose), Shea Butter (Emi) and Locust Bean (Igba) were destroyed in Woru village to produce 800 pieces of carved woods of various sizes by the Nigerien.

He also said that the estimated cost of woods felled in Woru was more than N1 million, while warning other village heads to desist from aiding and abeting illegal activities in their areas.

He disclosed that the carved woods were impounded and deposited at the Area Forest Office, Ilorin while the culprits had been transferred from A Division Police Station, Ilorin to the office of The Nigerian Immigration, Ilorin.