Dikko Radda, the Governor of Katsina State, has suspended Usman Ilyasu, the head of the forestry unit in the Malumfashi Local Government Area (LGA), over allegations of selling hectares of forest reserve.
The suspension was announced in a statement issued on Friday by Aliyu Yar’Adua, the Director of Press for the Secretary to the State Government.
The governor revealed that the hectares of forest reserve allegedly sold by the suspended official were valued at millions of naira.
In response to the serious allegations, Governor Radda directed the Local Government Service Commission to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and identify all individuals involved in the illegal sale.
“The Katsina State government received a report on serious allegations of illegal sales of several hectares of Makaurachi forest reserve in Malumfashi Local Government Area, involving tens of millions of naira,” the statement reads.
“In view of the foregoing, His Excellency, the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umara Radda, Ph.D., as a matter of urgency, directed the Local Government Service Commission to suspend Usman Ilyasu with immediate effect.
“The governor also directed the commission to thoroughly investigate the matter and determine the extent of both the illegal transactions and the encroachment on the forest reserve.
“Identify all those involved in the illegal transactions, take immediate and appropriate actions on the matters, report back to the governor without delay.”
