Osun Council Chairmen, Soldiers In Standoff Over Illegal Mining Crackdown

OSOGBO — Tension erupted on Tuesday at Ibodi in Atakunmosa West Local Government Area of Osun State as council chairmen from the Ijesa South Federal Constituency and military personnel had a confrontation during an enforcement operation against alleged illegal mining activities.

The council chairmen, accompanied by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Police Force, said they were responding to complaints from residents over environmental degradation and security concerns linked to illegal mining.

According to the chairmen, the confrontation occurred when members of the enforcement team attempted to halt the collection of levies and the issuance of tickets at a mining site. They alleged that military personnel at the location prevented the operation, resulting in a standoff.

The situation was later brought under control following the intervention of the member representing Ijesa South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Sanya Omirin, and senior police officers, after which the enforcement team proceeded with its activities.

The delegation later visited Ijana Wasare community, where it announced the closure of what it described as illegal mining sites and directed that the issuance of tickets to unlicensed miners should cease.

Addressing journalists after the exercise, the Chairman of Ilesa West Local Government, Mr. Lanre Balogun, who spoke on behalf of the council chairmen in the constituency, said the operation was aimed at addressing the environmental and security challenges associated with illegal mining.

He said communities including Iperindo, Itagunmodi, Igangan, Itapa and Odogbo had been affected by environmental degradation, destruction of farmlands, pollution of water sources and other challenges allegedly linked to illegal artisanal mining.

Balogun said the local government authorities had sought information from the Osun State Mining Office on operators in the area, adding that the response did not resolve their concerns.

He further alleged that some mining sites were operating without the necessary licences and that unauthorised persons were collecting revenue through ticketing at the sites.

According to him, the council chairmen subsequently invited the NSCDC to inspect the affected communities and commended the agency for its response.

The chairmen also met with the Owa Sare of Ijana Wasare, Oba Adeniyi Adedeji, and other traditional rulers and stakeholders, where they agreed to collaborate in addressing illegal mining activities.

They said their intervention was based on the constitutional responsibilities of local governments regarding environmental protection and community development.

Speaking during the inspection, Hon. Omirin alleged that the Osun State Government was permitting illegal mining activities through the issuance of tickets to operators without valid mining licences.

He maintained that the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development is the authority responsible for issuing mining licences and said he would raise the matter at the National Assembly.

The council chairmen announced an immediate ban on illegal mining operations and the issuance of tickets in the affected communities, directing operators to obtain the appropriate licences from the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development before resuming operations.