Police urged to plant, protect trees in barracks or pack out

The Police Command in Gombe State in collaboration with the state Ministry of Environment has embarked on tree planting campaign in barracks, NAN reported.

Speaking in Gombe recently, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Austine Iwar, said that the ministry had provided the police with 400 seedlings for the exercise.

Iwar said that all personnel residing in barracks would be involved in the planting of trees.

“Each of the trees planted will be attached to the households.

“If you do not protect them, it means you are not fit to live in the barracks, you will pack out,’’ the commissioner said.

According to him, barracks accommodation is a privilege and not a right, hence any officer who wants to enjoy the barracks must abide by the rules and regulations.

Hajiya Sa’adatu Sa’ad, the state Commissioner for Environment, commended the police for the exercise and called on other agencies to emulate them.

“Your positive response which informed your decision to organise a befiting occasion for planting of trees in the barracks demonstrates the commitment of the force to conserve our fragile ecosystem.

“I equally urge individuals and communities to imbibe the spirit of planting and discourage indiscriminate felling of trees, engage in environmental sanitation and avoid dumping of refuse in drains to prevent flooding and erosion hazards,’’ Sa’adatu said.

She said that trees have a lot of benefits among which are reduction of effects of global warming, provision of employment opportunities, income and a source of medicine.