By Headlinenews.news Investigations Desk
Imobi, Ogun State — October 2025.
For months, the sacred serenity of the Oluweri River Grove in the Malara area of Imobi, Ogun State, has been shattered by the piercing whine of chainsaws. More than 40 ancient trees — including iroko, oak, and other heritage hardwoods — have been felled in a wave of illegal logging that locals say is ravaging their ecosystem and desecrating a sacred site central to Yoruba spiritual history.
At the center of the storm is one Demorin, alleged by residents to be orchestrating the illegal felling. According to witnesses, he and his associates have been living in the area in a property which doesnt belong to them, sawing trees into planks for sale. Multiple petitions and evidence — photos, videos, and eyewitness accounts — have been submitted to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), and the Ogun State Ministry of Forestry.
Residents recall that Demorin once desecrated another shrine in Malara years ago and narrowly escaped death after a near-fatal car accident that followed the incident — an event many in the community interpreted as divine retribution. Elders now warn that his latest actions against the Oluweri Grove may again provoke both legal and spiritual consequences.
Sacred Heritage, Environmental Crisis
The Oluweri River shrine is more than a spiritual site; it’s an ecological treasure. Revered as the dwelling of the river goddess Oluweri, linked to Olokun and Osun, the grove represents a living heritage of Yoruba spirituality and biodiversity. Generations have relied on its clean water, canopy shade, and forest medicine. Now, its desecration is both a cultural and environmental wound.
“Forests and trees form an integral part of the global water cycle… they regulate water quantity, quality, and timing, and provide protective functions against erosion, floods and avalanches,” the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reminds governments in its global forest policy statement.
“Forests are part of the natural infrastructure of any country and are essential to the water cycle.” — FAO, Forest and Water Programme
With the continuous felling near the riverbanks, locals fear that the water table may collapse, streams may dry up, and once-fertile land could turn barren.
Voices from Malara: Leadership Reacts
Speaking to Headlinenews.news, the Baale of Malara confirmed he was recently briefed on the situation and intends to act immediately.
“I have been informed of what is happening,” the Baale said. “I am presently on transit but will return to Malara this weekend to assess the damage myself. I have already spoken with the Princess, who is determined to ensure the perpetrators face the full weight of the law. Together, we will appeal to the Elders to stop the felling immediately and preserve our environment before any further action.”
He added that the community’s Traditional Priest (Abore) is deeply angered by the desecration.
“The Abore is very upset,” the Baale explained. “The grove was protected by mature trees that maintained the sanctity of the Oluweri shrine. Now the area stands exposed and littered with splinters. The Abore has directed the Regent to act fast, as tradition demands she tidy up the grove and appease the goddess to restore peace and balance.”
The Princess of Malara (South), also interviewed, confirmed the destruction and described it as a grave assault on the community’s spiritual and environmental life.
“I revived the ancient deity because my great-grandparents founded Malara centuries ago,” she said. “Since then, Oluweri has blessed us — her waters are our main source of life. The elders always consult me when the water recedes so we can appease her. But now, the goddess is angry. The grove is bare, and the water has stopped flowing. Our people walk long distances to fetch water. This is tragic and driven by greed.”
She added firmly:
“It is unfair and shameful to stoop this low because of money. The law must take its full course. The perpetrators and their sponsor must be apprehended immediately. Our only water source has been destroyed.”
The Princess also made a strong appeal for law enforcement presence in Malara, addressing the security vacuum enabling environmental crime.
“I have requested the Inspector-General of Police and the AIG to locate a police statiostation in Malara. We will provide the land,” she said. “There used to be a police post at Fotedo, barely five minutes away, but it was scrapped. Now the nearest station is at Ogbere, about thirty minutes from Imobi. A police station here will discourage criminal activity and ensure immediate response to illegal acts in the area.”
Faith, Culture, and Tolerance
Malara stands out as a rare community where Muslims, Christians, and traditional worshippers coexist peacefully, celebrating one another’s festivals without discrimination.
“Our community is unique,” the Princess told Headlinenews.news. “We all worship God in different ways — Christians, Muslims, and traditional believers live and celebrate together in peace. That tolerance is our strength.”
Her comments align with growing calls by national figures for respect toward traditional faiths.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, though a devout Christian, recently acknowledged that he holds great respect for Ifa and Yoruba traditional institutions. Similarly, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate, has long championed the preservation of traditional religion and its values, emphasizing that “our indigenous spirituality carries moral and cultural wisdom that predates imported faiths.”
Many Yoruba cultural advocates argue that Christianity and Islam, while respected, were imported, and that neglecting indigenous traditions like Ifa and the worship of natural deities leads to cultural erosion. Malara, they say, offers a living example of peaceful coexistence rooted in mutual respect.
Illegal Logging: A Global Crime
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and INTERPOL warn that illegal logging is not a local issue — it’s transnational organized crime.
“Illegal logging and forest crime has an estimated worth of US$30 to US$100 billion annually. Sustainable development, livelihoods, good governance and the rule of law are all being threatened,” said Achim Steiner, former UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director.
“These crimes rob nations of a sustainable future when unlawful activities are more profitable than lawful ones,” notes UNEP/INTERPOL in their joint report Green Carbon, Black Trade.
The pattern in Imobi mirrors these global warnings — unchecked timber exploitation, community silence, and absent oversight.
Deforestation: A National Emergency
Nigeria is among Africa’s fastest-deforesting nations. Global Forest Watch reports that the country has lost more than 1.44 million hectares of tree cover since 2001 — a 14% decline, largely from illegal felling and land clearance.
Under the NESREA Act and the National Environmental (Wetlands, River Banks and Lake Shores) Regulations (2009), cutting trees near rivers without authorization is a federal offence. Ogun State laws classify it as illegal exploitation, subject to seizure, fines, and imprisonment.
Comparative Lessons: Global Penalties
United States (Lacey Act): Illegal timber trafficking attracts felony charges, fines, and asset forfeiture.
United Kingdom (UK Timber Regulations): Unlimited fines and imprisonment for trading illegal wood.
Brazil: Environmental raids have seized thousands of truckloads of illegal timber and imposed multi-million-real fines.
These examples show that illegal logging is treated as serious environmental crime in countries that value sustainability. Nigeria should do the same.
International Perspective: What Must Be Done
The FAO, UNEP, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) all warn that delayed action multiplies damage.
“The risks and projected damages depend strongly on near-term action; delayed protection measures increase risks for ecosystems and human health.” — IPCC, Sixth Assessment Report (2023)
That action must begin now — in Malara.
Call to Action: Government Must Intervene Now
The Oluweri Grove crisis demands urgent intervention:
1. Immediate police and environmental enforcement to stop further logging.
2. Joint NESREA–Ogun Forestry operation to seize timber and prosecute offenders.
3. Community restoration programme to replant indigenous species.
4. Independent investigation into alleged bribery of local elders.
5. Cultural heritage protection for the Oluweri Grove, modeled after the UNESCO-listed Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove.
6. Permanent police station in Malara, as requested by the Regent, to ensure security and environmental protection.
7. Transparent public reporting of enforcement outcomes.
Conclusion: A Line Must Be Drawn
The desecration of the Oluweri Grove is not just a crime against nature — it’s an affront to culture, faith, and national integrity. As UNEP warns, illegal logging robs nations of their sustainable future.
If unchecked, Ogun State risks losing not only a sacred grove but a symbol of peace and unity where Christians, Muslims, and traditionalists coexist.
“They are cutting more than wood,” one resident told Headlinenews.news. “They are cutting the roots of our identity.”
Headlinenews.news Special Investigative Report &
Yoruba World Heritage Foundation.
Oluweri Grove Under Siege by Illegal Loggers
Imobi, Ogun State — October 2025.
Over 40 heritage trees have been illegally felled around the sacred Oluweri River Grove in Malara, Ogun State — desecrating a centuries-old shrine and destroying the community’s only water source. Locals accuse a certain Demorin, previously linked to shrine desecration, of masterminding the sale of the trees and desecrating the Oluweri Grove which has large impressive mature trees after centuries of growth.
The Princess of Malara confirmed the grove’s damage, warning that the goddess’s departure has dried the river. She urged immediate arrests and requested the IGP to re-establish a police station in Malara to deter crime. The Baale and Abore vowed swift traditional and legal action.
Environmental experts and the UNEP call the incident “an assault on heritage and nature demanding urgent intervention.”
Yoruba World Heritage Foundation.
Malara [South] Under Seige By Illegal Loggers With Conspiracy of A self acclaimed leader of no visible means of livelihood.
Police & Ogun State Government intervention requested..
www.headlinenews.news
