Ekiti State government has destroyed over 20 hectares of hemp farm in Ise-Ekiti Forest Reserves in Ise/Orun Local Government Area.
The plantation and nursery prepared for transplanting were destroyed and burnt by the Task Force of the Ekiti State Forestry Commission.
Executive Secretary of the commission Sunday Adekunle said the plantation was discovered following a tip-off from newly recruited boundary officials.
According to him, the perpetrators had turned the area to a den of kidnappers, tormenting citizens and travellers. Adekunle emphasised the efforts of government to ensure adequate security for its people. He also pledged the Commission’s readiness to flush out men of the underworld from all the state’s reserves.
Adekunle added that efforts were on to engage farmers on such land through the Agro-forestry methods, particularly, planting of tree seedlings being currently raised at the Commission Central Nursery at Erifun, Ado-Ekiti.