Uncontrolled Incursion of Illegal Miners into Osun is a Threat to Security, Nip it in the bud, Osun Security Chiefs Submit

The Osun State Government today organized a security sensitization session at the Atlantic Suit and Confrence Centre in Osogbo having in attendance royal fathers, community leaders, stakeholders and security chiefs.

Commissioner of Police, Mrs Abiodun Ige; State Director Department of State Service (DSS), Mr Brown Ekwoaba; State Commander National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Samuel Egbeola ‎and Acting Comptroller Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Ibong Osato Aideyan, who attended the programme, advocated synergy among security agents and with residents to enhance security.


The State Director of DSS remarked that the uncontrollable migration of  gold miners from Zamfara State at the wake of the ban on illegal mining in the North, represents a real threat to stability.

It was noted illegal miners and bandits displaced from Zamfara State are now well established in Atakunmosa, Ilesa and Ile-Ife communities of Osun State. Security stakeholders, traditional rulers and community leaders are therefore urged to be at alert to prevent all forms of criminality.

After the session Governor Gboyega Oyetola took to his Facebook timeline to summarize the sensitization session in the following words:

"The priority and indeed the first responsibility of any government is the security of lives and properties.

"Today's meeting with security Chiefs, Royal fathers, Community leaders and other  Stakeholders is to deliberate on the security of our dear State. We must ensure that the unfortunate incursions experienced in Zamfara state is not repeated anywhere else in Nigeria. Osun would not be a haven for Illegal miners, undocumented migrants and criminally minded citizens. They can take that to the bank.

"All measures are being put in place to ensure Osun stays as ranked ; the most peaceful and secured state of the federation.

"I am assuring the good people of Osun that my administration would not relent in this regard.

"You can always count on us to be proactive."


Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in his keynote address at the occasion said:

“It has become imperative to put measures in place to checkmate the influx of displaced illegal miners to prevent the reverberation effect of the Zamfara State crisis in Osun.”

Opeyemi Abolarinwa reporting for Ileri-Oluwa Social Media Team wrote:

"The security Heads in their separate remarks enumerated some of the causes of insecurity in the state ranging from illegal Minning, bandits and illegal engagements in hard drugs.

"They stressed that the only way by which criminalities can be eradicated in the state is to work together as a team to fish-out criminals from different towns and villages in the state and requested traditional rulers and landlords to continuously spy on their tenants from time to time as a way of checking their behaviours.

"The security Heads however commends governor Gboyega Oyetola for his proactivenes in this area.

"Earlier in his address, the Secretary to the state government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji noted that the meeting dwelt extensively on security, applauding Governor Oyetola's managerial intervention.

"Prince Oyebamiji pointed out that it's the duty of all and sundry to be Security conscious while assuring the gathering that the outcome of the sensitization meeting will go a long way of actualizing the dreams of a safe environment.

"His Imperial Majesty, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Eniitan Ogunwusi in his submission commends the governor for his sense of leadership and for displaying the virtues of Omoluabi ethos in his dealings.

"He also charged security agencies to work hand in hand with traditional rulers to every nooks and crannies of each towns and villages in the state to totally eradicate criminalities and produce a liveable environment."

Photos: