PHOTOS: Oyo Deputy Gov leads clearance operation against illegal miners
…orders closure of Sooro market with immediate effect
… says Gov’t poised to securing lives and properties
The Deputy Governor of Oyo state, Barrister Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal has reiterated that the current administration will not tolerate illegal mining activities in the state.
Barr. Lawal, who disclosed this on Sunday when he led clearance operation against illegal miners at Sooro market in Irepo local government, said Oyo state government is poised to securing lives and properties.
He noted that Makinde administration will not hesitate to pounce on any individual involved in illegal mining activities, adding that Security operatives have already made some arrests, and they are working nonstop to also apprehend whoever is found guilty.
During the raid of the illegal lithium mining market, the Deputy Governor ordered the immediate evacuation of all illegal structures and shanties built across the market, the precious stones, as well as the closure of the Sooro Community market.
Addressing security operatives and notable community leaders at the Local government secretariat after the raid, the Deputy Governor disclosed that his visit to the town was based on security report and recent development on Saturday.
According to him, the security report in Irepo local government was extremely negative and terribly bad in the last security meeting at the government secretariat in Ibadan on Thursday.
Barr. Lawal, who said he was unable to sleep last night as a result of the disturbing report, however mentioned that the state government had signed an executive order last year that addressed illegal mining activities in the state, emphasising that the activities in the Sooro community goes against the government’s interest.
In addition, he underlined that the Makinde administration will not tolerate actions that put people’s lives and property in danger and urged security personnel to make sure the market stays closed.
The Deputy Governor said: “This market remain close until further notice. The security operatives must take this very serious. We are not joking with illegal mining activities.
“We’ve had a situation where factory is brought down as a result of illegal mining activities, and I do not know what will follow tomorrow on Sooro community. Illegal mining activities is not peculiar to Irepo local governments alone in the state.”
The Deputy Governor who assured that government will continue to take necessary action against any illegal mining activities in the state, urged the Iba of Kishi, Oba M.O Lawal, to always seek for clarification from the Director-General of the Mineral Development Agency of Oyo State and Executive Chairman of the Pacesetter Mineral Development, Hon. Abiodun Oni, before engaging or allowing activities relating to mineral resources in the local government.
He equally urged the iba of kishi land to instruct the Baale of Soro to immediately report to Ibadan, stating that there is no hiding place for criminals.
This was just as he issued a stern warning to houses harboring illegal foreigners that government will not hesitate to pull down their structures.
Further more, the Deputy Governor hinted that the state governments had identified about six flashpoint in the state in which Irepo local government is one of them including Orire, Saki, Iwajowa, Surulere among others which are threat to security of lives and properties.
While commending security operatives in the local government for their swift response, Barr. Lawal urged them to intensify their efforts in combating crimes, pointing out that Irepo is a very small local government and shouldn’t be allowed to experience crisis.
He equally called for more cooperation and synergy with the local government’s elders in each situation that arises.
“To the community leaders, we have to be more assertive. Any youths causing issue should be summoned to the palace. There are also report of Chinese living in Irepo local government. What is their function in the community. You must work closely with security operatives.
“And to security operatives, always cooperate with community leaders to sanitize the community,” he added.
Earlier in his remarks, the Bobajiro of Kishiland, Chief Bioku Rahman, who spoke on behalf of the community, however implored the state government to prevail on security operatives to be active stating that as community, there is little they can do as Nigeria law do not give permission to individuals.
He appealed to the security operatives to always alert community leaders whenever their attention is needed to make their operation easier while narrating the risk he took to engage protesters who barricaded the roads.
Bobajiro added that security issue requires team work to combat crimes, stating that the deputy governor has really assisted with first hand information to douse tension in the community.
On his part, the commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abdul waheed Soliu Adelabu, however asserted that government will not hesitate to further close down the Sooro market if rules being laid down are not followed.
He wondered why youths who are supposed to be educated be barricading or protesting over illegal mining activities, stressing that the Sooro community market is sitting on a gun powder, and there’s need to address the situation.
Among those present at the meeting included member of House of Assembly, representing Olorunsogo/Irepo state constituency, Hon. Waliu Abdulsalam Ayinde; Irepo local government chairman, Pastor Joel Oyetunji; representatives of operation burst; Amotekun, NSCDC, army, among others.
