Oyo Shuts Market, Arrests Illegal Miners

Oyo State government has insisted that the Sooro Market, Kishi in Irepo local government area in the Oke-ogun region remains closed indefinitely following the activities of illegal miners in the market last Saturday.

The government said 32 persons were arrested including two Chinese nationals during a raid of an illegal lithium mining market in the area.

The state deputy governor, Adebayo Lawal, had during a clearance operation against the illegal miners at the market, ordered its closure and immediate evacuation of all illegal structures and shanties built across the market and the precious stones.

He warned that the state government would not hesitate to pounce on any individual involved in illegal mining activities in the state, warned indigene and residents of Kishi and its environs to distance themselves from aiding, activities that could disrupt security of lives and properties in the area and the state at large.

The executive assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on security, Sunday Odukoya, a retired commissioner of police, revealed this after security stakeholders, traditional rulers and leaders from Kishi had a meeting with deputy governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal.

He said the state government in its proactiveness to eradicate activities of illegal mining, will not hesitate to deal decisively with the erring miners.

The director-general of “Operation Burst”, Colonel Oladipo Ajibola (rtd), said collaborative efforts of traditional leaders and joint security taskforce enabled the instant restoration of peace and order in Sooro community.

He added that 32 illegal miners, including two Chinese migrants, were arrested and undergoing investigations.

On his part, the Kishi traditional leader, represented by the president of Kishi Indigene Union, Abdulrahman Bioku, pledged the readiness of Kishi people to support the government in the fight against illegal miners.

Some illegal miners in collaboration with hoodlums in Sooro had last weekend attacked security operatives while raiding the illegal lithium mining market.