Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has moved to halt the rising security threats in Osun mining communities with the launch of a new community-based intelligence architecture aimed at stopping the influx of suspected bandits into the state.
Adeleke was represented by his Special Adviser on Security, Mr. Samuel Ojo, at the stakeholders’ conference in Osogbo attended by security chiefs, traditional rulers, mining operators, environmental activists and community leaders.
According to a statement by the Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Tuesday, the meeting was convened following credible intelligence of unregulated migration into mining areas, particularly in the Ife-Ijesa axis.
Ojo said the administration was worried by reports of mass movement of persons from Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi into Osun mining sites.
“The government is concerned about the sudden and unregulated influx into our mining communities. While we welcome Nigerians seeking legitimate work, intelligence shows this movement is not just about mining,” he said.
He warned that some of the newcomers were replicating criminal patterns seen in the North West, including armed camps, illegal taxation, youth recruitment and establishment of parallel authority structures.
“Some foreign nationals and non-Nigerians are also infiltrating our communities. They speak local languages, carry fake IDs, and pretend to be from other Nigerian states. Their mission is not mining. Their mission is to establish a base,” Ojo quoted the Governor as saying.
To address this, Adeleke announced the immediate establishment of a Mining Community Intelligence Architecture for Ife-Ijesa.
Under the new structure, every major mining community is to constitute a 7-man Community Security Committee within 14 days. The committee will comprise representatives of the mining site, community security groups, traditional rulers, the DPO, and the State Security Council.
The Governor directed traditional rulers and community leaders to profile all residents in their domains.
“Community leaders, you must help us profile everyone. If you did not birth him, if you did not invite him, and you cannot vouch for him, then he does not belong in your community,” he stated.
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