Ekiti Vows Justice Over Arinta Waterfall Desecration

​The Ekiti State Government has declared a zero-tolerance policy toward environmental vandalism following a “grave” criminal invasion of the Arinta Waterfall Protected Forest Reserve. In a joint enforcement action, the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development and the State Forest Commission confirmed the arrest of three suspects involved in illegal logging and arson within the iconic conservation site located in Ipole-Iloro Ekiti.

​The suspects—identified as Idowu Ajewole, Ojo Olajuyigbe, and Idowu Adepoju—were apprehended after allegedly infiltrating the restricted zone under the cover of darkness. According to official reports, the group felled over ten mature ecological trees that form the waterfall’s essential “protective shelter belt,” cleared over an acre of land, and set the area ablaze. Two other suspects, Kehinde Tutor and Olasebikan Bodunde, remain at large as a police manhunt intensifies.

​A Blow to Ekiti’s Natural Heritage

​Describing the act as “ecological violence,” authorities emphasized that the suspects, despite being members of the host community, are not immune to the Ekiti State Forestry Law of 2016.

​”Arinta Waterfall is not a free-for-all land,” the government statement read. “Communal affiliation does not confer immunity. Conservation statutes apply equally to indigenes, settlers, and visitors alike.”

​The offenders face prosecution under Section 95 of the forestry law, which carries heavy penalties including imprisonment, significant fines, and mandatory restitution for environmental damage. The case has been transferred to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Ado Ekiti.

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​Immediate Security Escalation

​In the wake of this breach, the state has activated several emergency protocols:

• ​Enhanced Surveillance: Increased security patrols around Arinta and other high-value conservation sites.
• ​Intelligence Networks: The establishment of a structured community-led reporting system.
• ​Restoration Assessment: Experts have been deployed to evaluate the long-term impact on the waterfall’s biodiversity.

​The government warns that any individual found engaging in illegal logging or encroachment within protected zones will face “immediate and uncompromising” prosecution to defend the state’s sustainable development agenda.