Tension as soldiers, council officials face off at illegal mining site in Osun
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –
Tension flared at an illegal mining site in Ibodi, Atakunmosa West Local Government Area of Osun State on Tuesday as military personnel and local government officials engaged in a heated face-off during a crackdown on illegal mining activities.
The incident occurred after local government chairmen from the Ijesa South Federal Constituency, accompanied by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the police, moved to stop the collection of tickets and levies at the site following complaints by residents over environmental degradation and rising insecurity linked to illegal mining.
The situation escalated when soldiers at the site prevented the enforcement team from carrying out the operation, leading to a tense confrontation.
The impasse was eventually resolved following the intervention of the member representing Ijesa South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Sanya Omirin, and senior police officers, allowing the council officials to halt mining activities and the collection of tickets at the Ibodi site.
The enforcement team subsequently moved to Ijana Wasare community, where more illegal mining sites were shut down and the collection of tickets from unlicensed miners was stopped.
Speaking on behalf of the council chairmen, the Chairman of Ilesa West Local Government, Lanre Balogun, said the operation was aimed at tackling the environmental damage and security concerns caused by illegal mining across Ijesa communities.
Balogun said communities such as Iperindo, Itagunmodi, Igangan, Itapa and Odogbo had suffered extensive environmental degradation, destruction of farmlands, pollution of streams and other water sources, as well as the displacement of farmers due to illegal artisanal mining.
Omirin, on his part, accused the Osun State Government of encouraging illegal mining by issuing tickets to unlicensed miners instead of enforcing compliance with federal mining regulations. He maintained that only the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has the constitutional authority to issue mining licences.
