The Rivers State Government has cleared the Evil Forest which had served as the operational headquarters of the Niger Delta Vigilante Movement led by Mr. Ateke Tom.
The Evil Forest is located in Okochiri in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The action followed a directive issued by the state governor, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, that the forest and the properties of the NDVM�s leader be acquired for use by the government.
Amaechi had visited the forest after members of the vigilante group raided Port Harcourt on the New Year�s Day and killed 13 persons including policemen and civilians.
Angered by the level of destruction caused by the group, the governor had ordered an immediate take over of the forest for the building of a health centre for the people of Okrika.
In an exclusive interview with Sunday Punch, the Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Sampson Parker, said that his ministry had carried out the governor�s directive.
Parker noted that bulldozers had gone far in clearing the forest and that the drawing of the proposed health facility to be located in the area was ready.
He, however, explained that it would take long for the whole forest to be brought down, adding that the government would not spare anything to develop Okochiri community.
He said, �As we speak, work is going on as directed by the governor. The people of the area are aware that development is coming to their community and they are happy about it. With the health centre that is going to be located in the area, we are going to build roads, electricity and pipe borne water. The people are very happy that the government is doing something for them.�
When asked whether shallow graves had been discovered in the forest in the course of clearing the land, Parker said no such report had been made by the workers deployed in the area.
�If they find anything like that they will surely report to us but as at now, nothing like that has been found. There is security presence in the after even before the governor issued directive that the place be cleared. There are soldiers and police men in the area right now,� he said.
Parker explained that the major preoccupation of the government was to develop the area and make the people have a sense of involvement in what the administration was doing.