The Oloja of Imoru, Oba Charles Basorun, has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and Ondo State Government to take immediate action against illegal mining activities in his community, located in Odigbo Local Government Area.
Speaking with journalists in Akure on Wednesday, the traditional ruler expressed concerns that security agents were allegedly shielding illegal miners instead of stopping their operations. He warned that their presence had left residents in a constant state of fear.
Oba Basorun revealed that he had formally written to the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, urging an investigation into a mining licence presented by a company operating in the area, which he described as fraudulent. According to him, the licence, allegedly issued on November 15, 2024 and set to expire on November 14, 2027, was fake.
“During my thorough research and investigation, I discovered the licence was fraudulent. That was why the community and I wrote to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, requesting a proper investigation into the said licence,” he stated.
The monarch also cautioned against the planned deployment of additional security personnel to the illegal mining site, warning that it could trigger violent confrontations.
“We recently gathered information that a security chief is planning to deploy more personnel to the illegal site in the coming days. This could lead to confrontations and potential casualties,” he warned.
Oba Basorun urged stakeholders at both federal and state levels to intervene urgently to prevent further escalation of the crisis and protect the community’s resources from illegal exploitation.
