Monarchs in Ijeshaland of Osun State have called on Governor Gboyega Oyetola to suspend mining activities over the growing insecurity in the area.
The traditional rulers in Ijesa North and South as well as the representative of Osun East Senatorial District, in the Senate, Francis Fadahunsi, made the call in a communiqué issued after their meeting. The communiqué was released by the Owamiran of Esa Oke, Oba Adeyemi Adediran, on Saturday.
The monarchs said they decided to make the call following the alleged invasion of their domains by suspected bandits displaced from Zamfara State gold mines by security forces.
The traditional rulers said kidnappings and other criminal activities would end in Ijesaland if the state government suspended mining .The communiqué read, “All mining activities in Ijesaland should be suspended.
They said, “The state government should no longer issue certificates of occupancy to the owners of the land sold without the consent of traditional heads over such communities for the avoidance of incessant and fraudulent selling of family land.
“All landed properties sold to non-indigenes should be retrieved for the avoidance of the breach of communal peace. There should be logistic provisions for the police and other security agencies such as patrol vehicles, maintenance, fuelling and other support.
“There should be constant clearing of bushes along the major highways by at least 100 meters away from the main roads.”
The monarchs also urged all communities to take intelligence gathering seriously while urging farmers, hunters and others to collaborate with the security agencies to rid the land of criminals.
Source: Punch NG