Osun State chapter of Amotekun Joint Security Task Force have arrested 27 persons suspected to be illegal miners in the state.
The Deputy Chief of Staff to the State Governor, Abdullahi Binuyo, who announced this on Sunday, said those apprehended include 17 Chinese nationals and 10 Nigerians, including a local traditional ruler.
Binuyo said that the government would not fold its arms while its land was being degraded by unauthorised persons.
He noted that apart from ensuring that those arrested were prosecuted, they would also be made to pay compensation.
“As part of the government’s economic reforms, solid minerals is a major sector we are looking to explore. For these reforms to work, it has become imperative on the reforms to stop illegal mining and step up enforcement activities. The result is what we are witnessing today.
“The people you see here neither have genuine mining licences nor are they registered with the government. What they claim to have is Exploration Licences, which does not allow them to mine, the way they are doing. So, we will be prosecuting them and make them pay damages.
“Apart from flouting government’s Covid-19 Order, by refusing to stay at home, they have created environmental disaster for us, by poisoning our River which is a major public health concern for us,” he said
