The Osun State Government has suspended mining activities in the state till further notice.

The Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Forestry, Natural and Mineral Resources, Tunde Ajilore, who led officers of security agencies, including the police and men of the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to raid illegal miners at the mining sites in the Atakumosa West Local Government Area of the state, said the suspension was necessary to stop damage to several hectares of cocoa farms and plantations.

Ten of about 200 illegal miners, who fled into the bush on sighting the security agents leaving their work tools, including pumping machines, pans, shovels, cutlasses, jiggers behind during the raid, were arrested.

He warned the unlicensed miners searching for gold and other mineral resources to desist from the act or risk arrest and prosecution.

The Special Adviser also advised pirates, who go by the name of gold dealers, to stop contracting illegal miners to engage in mining, warning that if they are caught they would face the wrath of the law.

Expressing government displeasure against illegal mining activities in many parts of the state, he noted that the illegal miners had been making cheap money from the illicit practice with impunity and without government licence.

The Special Adviser and his entourage visited leaders of many communities which have been the operational bases of the mining activities to register government’s grievances. (The Nation)

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