Residents of Ogunlepa Community in the Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State have protested over the influx of illegal miners in their neighborhood.
BusinessDay reports that the residents, who are mostly local farmers in the agrarian community, however, said the unwholesome activities of the illegal miners had caused environmental degradation and damages to their farmland and crops.
According to them, the presence of the illegal miners, who are mostly non-indigenes of the community, was also capable of jeopardising the security situation of the community and contributing to local conflicts.
In a Save Our Soul message made available to journalists on Wednesday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Ayodele Akande, a farmer and spokesperson for the community, lamented that the activities of the illegal miners are looming disasters that threaten lives, properties and means of livelihoods of the locals.
Akande revealed that numerous farmlands had been destroyed due to the exploitations being carried out by the illegal miners, stressing that the allegation by youths in the community exposing some elders’ involvement in the act is also under threat.
“The ongoing illegal mining in Ogunlepa has damaged our farmlands and roads and continues to obstruct our business activities.
“Please help us stop this cruelty. We want to live in peace and enjoy our natural resources without suffering the consequences of exploitation,” he said.
Reacting, Taiwo Adegoroye, Chairman of Odigbo LGA, frowned at the activities of the illegal miners in the area, saying several warnings issued by the Government was ignored by the invaders.
Adegoroye, who visited the Ogunlepa Community in company of top officials of the council area to assess the level of damages and devastating effects of illegal mining on farmlands, declared a total war on illicit exploitation across the Council area.
Assuring the locals of immediate government intervention, the Council stressed that the administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa would not watch while illegal miners destroy the environment and disrupt the livelihoods of the people, mostly at the grassroots.
He, however, promised to work with security agencies and relevant stakeholders to put a stop to the menace in the Council area.
