The people of Ekuri Community in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State are demanding the sum of N500 million compensation from Ezemac International Nigeria Limited over illegal logging.

The community alleged that the company carried out an illegal logging in Ekuri forest, a Community Conserved Area (CCA) in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.

The Ekuri Community is also demanding that Ezemac International Nigeria Limited takes immediate steps to end logging of Ekuri forest and pullout immediately from the said forest.

Mr Edwin Ogar, the Programme Coordinator of Worthy Association for Tackling Environmental Ruins (WATER), who has the power of attorney from the Ekuri Community to conserve and manage the community forest for the livelihood and improvement of Ekuri villagers disclosed this on Sunday, April 16, 2023.

He said that the community was no longer comfortable with the activities of the company and that the situation is very bad.

He said that the forest they have been conserving for years has been destroyed by the company without permission and that the compensation is 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.

According to him, the Ekuri forest which is a protected area, has equal status like the national protected areas or forest in Nigeria, registered under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC).

He noted that the community was also seeking an urgent international intervention as their forest was under threat of extinction.

In his reaction, Mr Ezenwa Igwe, the Chief Executive Officer of Ezemac International Nigeria Limited, said that they called him to open a road for them and his people mistakenly entered their forest and felled 112 trees.