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Address Illegal Mining in Owo Now

NOTHING can be more mind- boggling and unsettling than the recent discovery of 50 illegal mining sites in Ilale, a suburb of Owo town, by men of the Ondo State security network known as Amotekun Corps.
THE discovery which also led to the arrest of 15 illegal miners who are of the northern stock is a big security jolt considering the huge conflict which illegal mining has caused in several states across the country, notably in Zamfara where over 5000 people have been reportedly killed.
THOSE arrested are Shuaibu Yahaya, Habbi Usman, Kabiru Waheed, Mohammed Nurudeen, Mohamed Sulaiman, Ali Mustapha, Ismaila Wahab, Musa Zeehed, Gabbar Musa, Sule Kebiru, Yahaya Danladi and Usman Ali Zekeri.
In other climes, the discovery of mineral resources is usually celebrated with pomp and massive media attention because of the economic advantages but in our country, it is a matter of disdain, regret and security concern due to government complacency and the activities of very powerful, well-connected and criminal elements who hold sway in the lucrative business.
As we welcome with joy the discovery of gold in Owo, The Hope urgently enjoins the state to proactively address the consequence which illegal mining is capable of igniting if care is not taken.
WE enjoin government officials to work with security agents to ferret out as much information as possible from those already in custody how they came to find out the 50 mining sites as well as their external and local collaborators. Every necessary information must be extracted from them to assist security agents and policy makers to ward off future invasion of mineral spots in the state and prevent the possible loss of human lives.
SECURITY personnel and forest rangers must be on the red alert in the state to ensure that criminals in whatever guise are disallowed from setting up terrorist cells in any part of Ondo State using illegal mining or pastoralism as a camouflage. Ondo State government is strongly advised to set up a powerful enlightenment and information machinery to educate the people about the dangers of harbouring illegal miners in the state.
ILLEGAL miners must be properly characterized in their true form and real colours as evil minded, tax evading, war- mongering drug barons and peace polluters who are driven mainly by their personal economic agenda and interests.
EXPERIENCE from Zamfara and other epic centers of illegal mining has shown that instead of allowing the people to enjoy the benefits of their God-given mineral resources, illegal miners have hijacked the economic opportunities and infrastructural developments associated with mineral excavation with chaos and war.
ILLEGAL miners are economic saboteurs and anti-people. In every environment they operate, they oppress the settlers with arms and ammunition. Their militia are often seen armed to the teeth and fuelling local conflict with impunity just to smoothen their illegal operation. In the process, the socio-economic equilibrium of the society is destabilized while the settlers are prevented from their agricultural activities.
INFORMATION obtained from inhabitants of Ilale, reveal that the invaders brought devastation on the community’s wild life by their gun totting life style.
THE government must not allow the gallant efforts of the Amotekun Corps to be in vain by acting fast on their reports and getting other ideas to rid the state of illegal mining activities. Just as it did in handling with dispatch the open grazing issue, those behind the 50 illegal mining sites in Owo should be unmasked, arrested and promptly prosecuted. Clear signals must be beamed to criminal elements that no single inch of Ondo State’s land will be ceded to illegal miners or their sponsors whether they are indigenes of the state or not.

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