The people of Imoru community in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State have cried out over the activities of illegal miners in the area, saying the activities of the miners have led to criminal activities.
Speaking on the development on behalf of the community, the community head, the Oloja of Imoru, Oba Charles Basorun, who lamented the activities of illegal miners in the community, said the community decided to seek the intervention of the state and federal government to restore peace in the area.
The monarch called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Ondo State Government to intervene in the panic caused by the miners despite the presence of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel in the area.
According to him, the activities of illegal miners have been on the rise, fuelling unrest in the community, saying the area has witnessed a surge in kidnappings and killings, affecting both locals and foreigners.
He recalled an ugly incident in 2024 leading to the killing of a youth leader in Leege community within the local government area, causing widespread unrest across the state.
He said despite the atrocities in the area, illegal mining activities continue to increase, while communities with mineral deposits face daily challenges.
The monarch said the community had written to the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, calling for an investigation into the licence presented by Royalhood Diadem Limited, which was regarded as fake.
The traditional ruler stated that the licence presented by Royalhood Diadem Limited, allegedly granted on 15th November 2024 and set to expire on 14th November 2027, was fake.
He said, “During my thorough research and investigation, I discovered it was fraudulent. That was why the community and I wrote to the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, requesting a proper investigation into the said licence.”
The Oloja of Imoru alleged that the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has been aiding the illegal activities of Royalhood Diadem Limited by deploying hundreds of NSCDC personnel to monitor the company’s operations.
“We recently gathered information that the Commandant-General of NSCDC is planning to deploy more personnel to the illegal site in the coming days,” he added.
The Oloja of Imoru has therefore called on stakeholders at both the federal and state levels to intervene in the activities of Royalhood Diadem Limited and bring the Commandant-General of NSCDC to order.
He warned that deploying NSCDC personnel to the site could lead to confrontations, potentially resulting in casualties.
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