Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has given kidnappers and other criminal elements operating in the state’s forest reserves 14 days to vacate the areas.

The governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Forestry, Bidemi Obayangban, disclosed this on Wednesday in Akure, saying the directive was part of efforts to strengthen security and create a safe environment for legitimate economic activities.

Obayangban said the directive was particularly aimed at criminals using the forests as hideouts, adding that the government had concluded plans to tackle kidnapping and other criminal activities across the reserves.

He said security agencies and hunters in the state were collaborating with the government to restore security to the forests.

According to him, the administration’s plans to revitalise the forestry sector and attract investors could not succeed without adequate security for farmers, timber contractors, investors and other legitimate operators.

He said the government was taking the fight directly to criminal elements in the forests and remained committed to reclaiming the areas.

“I am using this opportunity to announce that the state government is giving these individuals 14 days to vacate Ondo State forests,” he said.

Obayangban warned that those who failed to comply would face security action, saying the government was determined to eliminate kidnapping and other illegal activities from the state’s forest reserves.

He said restoring security would also support sustainable economic activities and create conditions for investment in the forestry sector.

The governor’s aide said the administration had adopted a discreet but action-oriented approach to security matters while finalising comprehensive measures to secure the forests and protect legitimate users.