The Gombe Goes Green (3G) Taskforce has stepped up its campaign against environmental degradation, making a series of arrests and seizures in a renewed crackdown on illegal logging and charcoal trading during its return trip from Dukku.
The Taskforce, led by its Chairman, His Royal Highness Dr. Abubakar Atare Buba II, intercepted several suspects and confiscated large quantities of illegally harvested timber and charcoal along the route.
In Bojude, the team discovered a heap of freshly cut rare and endangered tree species. The suspected seller was immediately apprehended and the logs seized.
Continuing their mission, the Taskforce moved into Gadam, where another major bust was carried out. Officers confiscated a large volume of illegally produced charcoal, and the individual responsible was arrested on the spot.
Shortly thereafter, a commercial bus heading toward Gombe was flagged down. A search revealed a roof-load of bagged charcoal. The owner was arrested, and the contraband seized.
Near the Gombe Silo storage facilities, the Taskforce uncovered yet another cache of illegally felled wood, believed to be prepped for distribution. The materials were impounded, and investigations are currently ongoing to identify those behind the activity.
Chairman of the Taskforce, Dr. Buba II, emphasized that the operations form part of the broader 3G campaign to halt deforestation and promote environmental sustainability. He reiterated the state government’s zero-tolerance stance on illegal logging and assured the public that enforcement will remain robust.
“These actions demonstrate our total commitment to safeguarding Gombe’s natural resources. Environmental offenders will have no hiding place,” he said.
The 3G campaign, championed by the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, is focused on afforestation, environmental restoration, and the enforcement of laws protecting forest reserves.
The public is urged to cooperate with the Taskforce by reporting any illegal environmental activities and by adopting sustainable practices that contribute to Gombe’s long-term ecological wellbeing.
