27 illegal miners arrests in Osun
The Osun State Joint Task Force (JTF), recently inaugurated by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, has apprehended 27 illegal miners, comprising 17 Chinese nationals and 10 locals, including a local traditional chief (Baale).
They were arrested following a coordinated sting operation around Ilesa and Ife axis.
Speaking about the development, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Abdullahi Binuyo, said that no responsible government would fold its arms and watch its land being degraded by unauthorised persons.
He said that besides the economic leakages, the illegal miners also polluted the Osun River with poisonous metals, thereby making it unsafe for human consumption and irrigation.
Binuyo was, however, quick to add that apart from ensuring that those arrested are prosecuted, they will also be made to pay compensation.
“As part of the government’s economic reforms, solid mineral is a major sector we are looking to explore. For these reforms to work, it has become imperative on the reforms to stop illegal mining and step up enforcement activities. The result is what we are witnessing today.
“The people you see here neither have genuine mining licences nor are they registered with the government. What they claim to have is exploration licences, which does not allow them to mine, the way they are doing. So, we will prosecute them and make them pay damages.
“Apart from flouting government’s Covid-19 order, by refusing to stay at home, they have also created environmental disaster for us, by poisoning our river, which is a major public health concern for us,” Binuyo added.
One of those arrested, May Zam, who was the only one that could speak passable English language among the Chinese, said that she was not aware they were engaging in illegal mining.
She said she worked for companies, and she believed they shouid have mining licences, adding that the current company she works for, which she failed to name, has a Nigerian sponsor.