Osun Govt arrests 27 Illegal miners...17 Chinese, 9 locals, Traditional chief to be prosecuted

The Osun State Joint Task Force (JTF), recently inaugurated by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, in a joint operation with Amotekun corps, has apprehended 27 illegal miners,  comprising 17 Chinese nationals and 10 locals, including a local traditional chief (Baale).

They were arrested following a coordinated sting operation around Ilesa and Ife axis of the State.

Speaking at a press conference held at the operational headquarters of Amotekun, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the State Governor, Hon. Abdullahi noted that aside the economic leakages, the illegal miners has also polluted the Osun River with poisonous metals, thereby making it unsafe for human consumption.

 He stressed that those arrested would be prosecuted and will also be made to pay compensation for the degradation.

Also speaking, the DG of Amotekun in the state of Osun, Comrade Amitolu Shittu, warned illegal miners and other criminal elements in the state to leave Osun or face the music, as the OYETOLA administration has zero tolerance to criminality.

Earlier, one of those arrested, May Zam, who was the only female and the only one that could speak passable English among the Chinese, said she had worked for different companies, and she believed each of them should have mining license.

The traditional chief (baale) who was trying to make call to a suspected sponsor of the illegal miners claimed he has a link with a palace in the area, claimed the expatriates have direct link with the palace.