Makinde sends warning to land-grabbers, illegal miners

By David Adeoye

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo on Friday described operations of land grabbers and illegal miners in the state as dangerous.

Makinde gave the warning during an interactive meeting with traditional rulers, heads of security agencies and local government chairmen.

The governor said that it was unlawful for any individual or group to forcefully take over the landed property or engage in illegal mining operations.

He vowed that his government would nip the situation in the bud by dealing decisively with those found culpable in such acts.

“We have identified issues of land grabbing and illegal mining as major challenges; I have also interacted with the people, including the traditional institution.

“From our analysis, the land grabbers are working mostly with some traditional rulers,” he said.

Meanwhile, he warned that any traditional ruler or chief “aiding the operations of the land grabbers and illegal miners will be dealt with”.

“While we try to protect the interest of everybody, I want to seriously warn that we are not going to allow the situation in other places to occur here in Oyo State.

“This is because we have the chance and opportunity to deal decisively with those troublemakers before it becomes a trend here.

“We have to address some of these issues and nip them in the bud right now and I want to solicit for the support of our traditional institution on this,” he stated.

“Oyo State is blessed with solid minerals in our localities, especially Oke-Ogun, Ogbomoso and Ibarapa axis.

“Chinese, Malians and different people from other places are all over these areas especially in the Iwajowa axis, all the way to Saki East.”

Thereafter, he called for more collaboration among security agencies, government and the traditional institution in the state, to improve the security situation.

NAN