Governor Ademola Adeleke has announced a series of measures aimed at addressing rising security concerns in Osun State’s mining sector, including the establishment of a mining community intelligence architecture to combat banditry and other criminal activities.
The governor made the announcement during a stakeholders’ conference convened to strengthen security across mining communities in the Ife-Ijesa axis of the state.
The meeting brought together security agencies, traditional rulers, mining companies, environmental advocates and community representatives to develop a coordinated strategy for tackling insecurity and regulating activities within the mining sector.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Security, Mr. Samuel Ojo, Adeleke said the conference became necessary following growing security threats linked to the influx of people into mining communities.
According to him, the state government has observed an increasing and unregulated movement of individuals from states including Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi into mining areas, warning that intelligence reports suggest some of them may be exploiting mining activities to establish criminal networks.
“We are not against Nigerians seeking legitimate means of livelihood, but intelligence available to us indicates that some of these movements go beyond mining. We cannot allow criminal elements to replicate the security challenges experienced in parts of the North-West within Osun State,” the governor said.
Adeleke warned that some suspected criminals were attempting to establish armed camps, recruit local youths, impose illegal levies and create parallel authority structures in mining communities.
He also raised concerns over reports of suspected bandits operating around the Ibodi Forest and suspicious movements of armed persons along the Ilesa corridor.
The governor further alleged that some foreign nationals had infiltrated mining communities by posing as Nigerians with fake identity documents.
“Community leaders must know those living within their communities. If you cannot identify or vouch for an individual, such a person should be profiled appropriately. We must not allow our communities to become safe havens for criminal elements,” he stated.
As part of efforts to strengthen intelligence gathering, Adeleke announced the creation of a Mining Community Intelligence Architecture for the Ife-Ijesa axis.
Under the initiative, every major mining community is expected to establish a seven-member Community Security Committee within the next 14 days. The committees will work closely with traditional rulers, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), security agencies and the State Security Council to monitor activities and share intelligence.
The governor also directed mining operators and community leaders to cooperate fully with the military, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Amotekun Corps by granting them access to mining sites and promptly reporting suspicious activities.
“We will not allow Osun State to become a refuge for bandits, nor will we allow our mineral resources to be exploited to finance criminality. Together, we must build a robust intelligence network to protect our communities and preserve the peace for which Osun is known,” Adeleke said.
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