The Osun State Government has arrested 27 persons for Illegal mining in the State.The arrest was made by a Joint task force recently inaugurated by the State Government. The 27 persons were arrested around Ilesa and Ife axis of the State.The suspects include: 17 Chinese, 9 indigenes and a Chief of a community in the State.
The Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor of the State, Mr Abdullahi Binuyo, confirmed the arrest in Osogbo on Sunday May 3rd,2020. He said: “The suspects will be prosecuted and made to pay damages. Aside the economic leakages, the illegal miners have also polluted the Osun River with poisonous metals, thereby making it unsafe for human consumption and irrigation.”
“We intend to prosecute them and also make sure they pay for the consequence. As part of government’s economic reforms, solid mineral is a major sector we are exploring. For the reforms to work, it’s important to stop illegal mining and step up enforcement activities.”
Abdullahi Said: “The result is what we are witnessing today.These people don’t have genuine mining licence, and they aren’t registered with the government.What they claim to have is Exploration Licences; that does not permit them to mine the way they are doing. We will prosecute them and make them pay damages.”
“They have created environmental disaster for us by poisoning our river which is a major public health concern.”