Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Jigawa Command, has warned residents against encroaching on Buffer Zone Game Reserve and Jago Game Reserve in Auyo and Guri Local Government Areas of the state.
The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Mr Muhammad Garba, gave the warning in a statement through the corps Spokesman, SC Adamu Abdullahi in Dutse on Monday.
Garba also warned against indiscriminate felling of trees by members of communities neighbouring to the reserves.
He said that recent inspection of the affected areas by the command’s Agro Rangers indicated that the two reserves were under threat of encroachment and deforestation.
The commandant said the incessant encroachment and deforestation of the reserves had reached an alarming rate that needed attention.
According to him, it is discovered in one of the reserves that over 500 meters of land has been encroached.
Garba further pointed out that the reserves were created and gazetted in 1985 by the Federal Government as animal and forest conversations to check desertification.
“Recent monitoring and supervision tour by Agro Rangers of the NSCDC and representatives of the Jigawa State Government of two reserves namely, Buffer Zone Game Reserve located at Shiyo, Auyo LGA and Gori Forest Reserve situated in Jago, Guri LGA, shows that the two reserves are under threat of encroachment and deforestation.
“It is on this note that the command strongly admonishes against further encroachments and felling of trees in those reserves and any other reserve in the state, and the outright reversal of the encroached areas.
“And anybody caught in the act will face the full wrath of the law,” Garba warned.
The commandant assured that Agro Rangers would be deployed to tackle the encroachment and deforestation of all game and forest reserves in the state.
