From Fisayo Akinduro, Osogbo

Osun State Joint Task Force and officers of Amotekun Corps have arrested 11 expatriates and three locals over their alleged involvement in illegal mining activities in the state.
The expatriates include; 10 Chinese and one Ghanaian.
It will be recalled that some expatriates were last week arrested by Amontekun Corps for engaging in illegal mining in the state.
It was gathered that the Amotekun Corps in collaboration with the State Join Task Force stormed Itagunmodi, Igun and Ariye 1 & 2, all in Atakunmosa West local government area of the state to perform the operation, which lasted for two hours, following a tip-off from members of the public.
While addressing newsmen, the Director-General of Osun Amotekun, Mr. Amitolu Shittu said it was part of the state governor’s directives to rid the state off ‘economic saboteurs.’
He commended the JTF, comprising the Nigerian Army, Air force, Navy, Police, DSS, NSCDC and Immigration for their cooperation with Amotekun corps to make the operation a success.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Information, Mrs Funke Egbemode, said the state government will continue to comb its mining sites to get rid of illegal miners.
Her words, ”’Today, the Joint Task Force of the state arrested another expatriates, who in spite of the previous arrests, thought they could outmaneuver the state’s regulations.
“They are currently being interrogated and necessary actions will be taken within legal limits.
”According to Governor Gboyega Oyetola, mining is the new frontier of the economy of Osun. The State Government is therefore planning to maximize the sector and reap maximum benefit from it”.
She said the state Government was not interested in witch-hunting anyone, but rather regulates mining activities within the state.
“If we do not sanitize the sector and take out illegal miners, we may end up like other countries who are now dealing with the negative consequences and concepts of illegal trade of natural resources ‘like blood diamond.
“We are determined to weed out illegal and inimical elements, and out to stop negative implications such as environmental degradation in the state.”