President Bola Tinubu.
By Anietie Akpan
A Civil Society Organization (CSO), based in Cross River State, Rainforest Resource and Development Centre (RRDC), has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 6 and two other federal agencies for a suspected illegal logging in the state for export, violation of presidential executive order and criminalisation of community representatives by a private company.
The two other federal agencies so petitioned by RRDC, are the Director – General/CEO National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Hon. Federal Commissioner, Public Complaintes Commission (The Nigerian Ombuddsman).
The petitions dated January 16, signed by the Executive Director, RRDC – Nigeria Human Rights and Environmental Defender, Prince Odey Oyama, pleaded with the IGP for an urgent intervention regarding the criminalisation of community forest defenders and alleged illegal logging for export by Ezemac International Company (Nig.) Ltd in Ekuri Community Forest, Cross River State.
Oyama alleged that “the company is alleged to have conducted large-scale logging operations in January 2026, during the subsistence of the Presidential Executive Order (published in the FRN official Gazette No. 180, Vol. 112, dated October 16, 2025), banning the export of wood and related products, and without the consent of the host community”.
He said, “rather than investigating the environmental offense , a complaint was lodged against community youths and Dr. Martins Egot, resulting in his arrest and detention. This pattern reflects a troubling misuse of policing processes to shield environmental violations and intimidate defenders.
“We respectfully request that: the Zone 6 Police Command be directed not to release the seized equipment pending investigation;2. An independent review be ordered into the conduct of officers handling this matter.
“The matter be reframed and investigated as a possible violation of federal environmental and export control laws.
We believe this intervention will strengthen public confidence in law enforcement and align policing with national environmental policy”.
In a pre-action notice and petition to the AIG, Zone 6, Oyama said this is to notify the office of the AIG of serious environmental, criminal, and regulatory breaches arising from illegal logging and attempted export of timber from Ekuri Community Forest, Akamkpa LGA, Cross River State, during the pendency of the Presidential Executive Order banning export of wood and related products (2025).
He said the Ekuri Community Forest (Old and New Ekuri) is the largest community-owned forest in Cross River State, bordered by: Cross River National Park (Federal Government), Agoi Forest Reserve & Ukpon Forest Reserve (State Government), Community forests of Ifumkpa, Owai, and Iko Esai.2)
But “on or about January 9, 2026, Ezemac International (Nig) Ltd, through its Managing Director Mr. Ezenwa Igwe, unlawfully deployed: two bulldozers, one excavator, 4–5 heavy-duty trucks into New Ekuri Community Forest, without: community consent, lawful forest allocation, valid export authorisation.
“The logging was unsustainable, unplanned, and targeted mature forest estates within a protected ecological corridor. Acting in defence of their communal property, community patrol members secured machine keys and batteries to halt ongoing environmental destruction.
These items are currently in the custody of Obubra Police Station (Apiapum Junction).
RRDC raised deep concerns over false and exaggerated criminal allegations made by the company’s solicitors against Dr. Martins Egot, a community leader; the arrest and detention of Dr. Egot despite no evidence linking him to criminal acts; attempts to use police intervention to recover the machines and other issues.
The RRDC therefore demanded that: “seized machines, batteries, and keys remain in police custody pending investigation and prosecution; No release of equipment be authorised without court order; The activities of Ezemac International (Nig) Ltd be formally investigated;d. Any officers found to have aided illegal conveyance of timber be disciplined; Relevant agencies be notified for coordinated enforcement”.
Similarly, RRDC charged the Director – General/CEO of NESREA to, “conducts an urgent compliance and enforcement inspection; export-related activities of the company be investigated; compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act, CAP. E12, as well as the NESREA Act, No.25 of 31st July 2007, be examined.
“Appropriate sanctions be applied where violations are established as this intervention is critical to ensuring that the Executive Order is not undermined at the implementation stage”.
To the Federal Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, RRDC called for an investigation into, “the role of public authorities in this matter; ensure that law enforcement actions do not undermine community rights or national environmental policy; and recommend corrective measures where abuse of office is established.
“Investigate export-related activities of the company; examine compliance with the EIA Act, CAP. E12 (and) appropriate action be recommended where violations are established”.
Recall, the Ekuri community led by now late Chief Edwin Ogar, had in 2023 dragged Ezemac company before the state government and the international community
demanding N500 Million as compensation for the illegal entry, destruction of swathe of Ekuri forest,including timber, understory, poles, non-timber forest products, medicinal plants, cultural heritage, watersheds and animal habitats. The Ekuri forest is said to be one of the World’s forest reserve under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Similarly, the indigenous people, 28 CSOs and environmental experts had in 2023 petitioned the Minister of Environment, the United Nations (UN) on the said illegal activities of Ezemac company and others seeking an urgent intervention.
The petition which was endorsed by the Programme Coordinator, Worthy Association for Tackling Environmental Ruins (WATER), late Chief Edwin Ogar, Oyu Tolgoi of Watch Mongolia, Professor Gretta Pecl, of Climate Change Ecologist & IPCC Lead Author, University of Tasmania and 25 others, raised concerns over attacks on indigenous communities and deforestation of the Ekuri Forest in Cross River.
However, the Chief Executive Officer of Ezemac International Nigeria limited, Chief Ezenwa Daniel Igwe had in same 2023, in telephone chat then admitted that his men entered part of Ekuri forest unknowingly but “the state government and the State Forestry Commission are aware of my activities in the forest and I paid money to the state before entering the forest. I also have an agreement with the village people”.
He denied any wrong doing, saying after the encroachment he was called to stop work, that his menhad encroached on their forest and was fined N5 million.
He said “I paid the money but they just want to frustrate my business. The State Government and the State Forestry Commission are aware of my activities in the forest and I paid money to the state before entering the forest. I also have an agreement with the village people”.
