AISHA ABUBAKAR
The Executive Chairman of Toto Local Government Council, Nasarawa State, Hon. Aliyu Abdullahi Tashas, has on Sunday ordered the immediate suspension of all activities in forests within the Local Government Area.
The order became imperative as criminals have turned the forest into their hideout, where they waylay, ambush, and kidnap farmers, timber operators and other innocent citizens.
According to the Chairman, the forests within the Local Government Area have become places where kidnappers held their victims and continue to demand for ransome and in several cases kill their victims.
A statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant, SSA to the Chairman on Media and Communications, Yahaya Idris Toto, said all activities in the forests have been suspended with immediate effect as two persons were killed in one of the forests.
The SSA stated that Hon Tashas Abdullahi, who is currently making security arrangements to flush the bandits and kidnappers, urged the people of the Local Government to be extra vigilant so as to avoid falling victims of criminals.
He pleaded with 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 Local Government Area.
Hon Tashas, who condoled with the families of the deceased, prayed to Almighty God to give them eternal rest and peace, urged residents to be conscious of their environment and report any suspicious persons and movements.