17 Chinese men and 10 locals have been arrested by the Osun State Joint Task Force including a local chief for illegal mining in the state. This happened along Ilesa and Ife axis of Osun State. The illegal miners were accused of polluting the Osun river with poisonous metals and making the environment unsafe for the residents.
Mr. Abdullahi Binuyo, Deputy Cheif of Staff in sun State, while addressing the matter stated that the perpetuators of the illegal mining business will not only be prosecuted but will be made to pay compensation to the state for the damages down. He added that no right government will fold its hands and allow its land to de degraded. In this case by unlicensed foreigners. He went further saying that the state in making concrete plans to invest in mineral mining and that they will not succeed with illegal activities like this around.
Chinese Men Arrested for Illegal Mining in Osun State
One of the arrested Chinese nationals stated that they assumed the company they were working for had the relevant license. She also added that the companies have Nigerian sponsors.
The Osun state government said that the miners had only exploration license which does not allow them permission for the kind of mining going on in that area.
Also, many residents of the area have testified that the activities of the miners have made their water undrinkable and have caused the collapse of many houseses around Ife and the farm settlements.
Chinese Men Arrested for Illegal Mining in Osun State
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