Youths, thought leaders and monarchs of Itasa in Iwajowa local government area in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State have raised the alarm over alleged illegal mining activities in the area.
The people, who ordered a mining company in the community, Architype Industries Nig. Limited, to vacate their land, called on the federal government to put an end to the economic sabotage.
Speaking with journalists, a prominent indigene of Itasa, Prof Bayo Aborisade, said the mining activities constituted a danger in several ways to the community and called on the federal government to move the miners off their land.
“They are extracting minerals from our land and they have empowered many people who have taken over the land to intimidate the community and threaten the people.
“They barred us from getting to the mining site and threatened to shoot us, claiming that the federal government will come hard on us as they have the backing of the federal government to be where they are.
“They spoiled the land and created settlements all over this land. The people we saw in the settlements don’t speak English. They constitute a danger in several ways to this community. We want this mining company taken off this land.
‘’The miner does not have all the conditions the federal government has laid down for mining. The only thing he said he has is a title to ‘land to mine.’
“He does not have an Environmental Impact Assessment. He has not reached an agreement with the community on how to use the land and benefit the community,” he said.
The chairman of Itasa Community Development Association, Alhaji Banji Isiaka Odedele; a youth leader, Mr Jelili Ogunlade and Julius Farounbi unanimously declared that the miners constitute a nuisance and must vacate their land forthwith.
They disclosed that mining activities had created insecurity in the town, saying as a result, they could no longer go to their farms.
“We cannot go to the farm. Enough is enough. We don’t want the company to work on our land again,” they said.
Also, the Onitile of Itasa, Oba Michael Sijuola Oyediran said, “We want peace and we want them to do the right thing for the town. We don’t want anyone cheating us.
“We want this town to develop. If the company refuses to do the right thing for the community, it should vacate our land. But if it does the right thing, it should stay.”
Counsel and indigene of the community, Femi Aborisade, said the company had not fulfilled conditions precedent under the law before commencing mining activities, hence it must vacate the land.
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