Four apprehended for illegal tree felling in Bauchi

Officials from the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA) have arrested four individuals for illegally cutting down trees using a chainsaw for timber production.  

The arrests were made with the assistance of the State Police Command, in line with the state’s laws prohibiting tree felling.

Reports reveal that the suspects were apprehended in Nahuta village along the Darazo-Bauchi Federal Highway while Dr. Mahmud Bose, the Director General of BASEPA, was conducting a routine surveillance mission to enforce the ban on illegal tree felling.

News360 Nigeria reports that Dr. Bose explained that he encountered the four offenders while travelling along the road during his surveillance.

He stopped and approached them to casually inquire about their activities without revealing his identity.

According to him, “I casually placed a call away from the offenders, requesting for Police backup from Darazo Division. I also called the Chairman of Darazo LGC, intimating to him what I came across. He later joined us at the scene of the incident.”

He added that “When the Police arrived, it was then that it dawned on the offenders the gravity of their offense. Thereafter they were arrested and taken into Police custody.”

While narrating his side of the story to our correspondent, the leader of the four offenders who are from Gombe State, explained that he bought the tree from a land vendor in Nahuta village (scene of the offense) with the aim of felling and chopping the tree into timber for profit.

He admitted that the felling of trees is an offense and that it was his first time being arrested, regretting his action.

As of the time of the report, the Four suspects are with the Police in Darazo for investigations and possible prosecution as contained in the relevant law.