Seyi Makinde-led Oyo State Government, on Monday, directed all the 33 local government chairmen in the state, as well as traditional rulers and chiefs, to flush out illegal miners, bandits and land grabbers in their respective council areas.
The Informant247 reports that an explosion rocked Adeyi Avenue at Old Bodija in Ibadan on Tuesday, January 16, killing five people and injuring 77 others while 55 houses were damaged, the incident which the governor attributed to the activities of an alleged illegal miner who he said stored explosives at home.
The order for the flushing out of illegal miners was given by the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Olusegun Olayiwola, while addressing newsmen after a closed-door meeting with the council bosses at the conference room of the ministry in Ibadan, the state capital, warning that the government has zero tolerance for crime and criminality and will stop at nothing to ensure the safety of the lives and property of its citizens.
He said, ”One of the major points that was extensively discussed today (Monday) is the issue of security of lives and property in the state. You will recall that about three weeks ago, there was an explosion at Bodija, Ibadan, which eventually turned out to be a result of illegal activities of illegal miners who are not supposed to keep such terrible equipment in the residential areas.
“As a result of this, chairmen and women in the 33 local government areas of the state were invited to the office of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters today (Monday), and we decided to address the press about the outcome of the meeting.
“The security situation in the state is very fluid, and as a result of this, the chairmen and chairwomen in the local governments have decided that the three critical areas that the people and government of the state need to look into are the areas of illegal mining, land grabbing and banditry.
”We have been coping with the issue of banditry for a while now, but unfortunately, the issue of land grabbing has taken centre stage of the insecurity of lives and property of the citizens of the state. The meeting discussed this extensively today (Monday) and decided that forthwith, the chairmen and chairwomen of the local government are being saddled with the responsibility of taking charge of the security situations of their local governments as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has given them the power to do as the Chief Security Officers of their local governments.
”As a result of this, we decided that the illegal miners, wherever they may be, the chairmen of various local governments should go after them; they should hunt and fish them out wherever they are. This can easily be done with the collaboration, assistance and support of royal fathers and traditional chiefs all over the councils. When they see something, they should say something, to be able to apprehend these people.
”As a matter of urgency, they should hold an emergency meeting with security committees of their various local governments and conclude that the committee will serve as a task force that will embark on the manhunting of illegal miners, land grabbers and bandits.
“The meeting had mandated the council bosses to compulsorily hold a joint security meeting every last Thursday of the month in their respective councils beginning from February 2024.”
While citing the recent suspension of the Onido of Ido, Oba Gbolagade Babalola, by the state government over alleged links with illegal miners, the commissioner urged royal fathers to expose anyone known to have ties with illegal miners to inform the relevant authority for prompt action.
In his remarks, the state Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Sikiru Sanda, assured the government of adequate security surveillance in all the local governments to make the state not only safe for the citizens but also for local and foreign investors.
Also speaking, Abiodun Oni, the Director-General of Solid Minerals Development Agency, enjoined every citizen to take security issues as their responsibility and not the government alone.
The story so far
The Informant247 reports that the Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had earlier confirmed the death of no fewer than two people, while 77 others were injured on Tuesday night in the explosion that occurred in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Makinde confirmed this during his visit to the explosion scene, adding that the blast occurred at Adeyi Avenue, Bodija. However, it was heard and felt in many parts of the city.
Governor Makinde also confirmed that the preliminary investigations by the security agencies revealed that the blast was caused by illegal miners occupying one of the houses in Bodija, adding that he had directed medical bills of all victims of the explosion be covered by the government with a temporary accommodation provided for those whose houses were affected by the explosion.
He said, ‘‘Preliminary investigations by the security agencies revealed that illegal miners occupying one of the houses in Bodija had stored explosive devices there which caused the blast. The investigations are ongoing. All those found culpable for this will be brought to book.”
‘‘We visited the scene of the explosion, which occurred at about 7.44 pm yesterday, 16 January 2024, in Bodija, Ibadan. This unfortunate incident resulted in death and injury to residents in the vicinity and also affected properties,” Mr Makinde said late on Tuesday. “We have already deployed first responders and all relevant agencies within Oyo State to carry out comprehensive search and rescue operations. These operations will continue throughout the night.
‘‘Earth moving equipment, ambulances, emergency lights, and security were deployed to the scene of the incident. The wounded and injured are being treated and moved to public and private hospitals within Ibadan. Medical personnel are on standby at these hospitals to provide all needed assistance to the injured. We have visited UCH to see some of those injured during the incident.
‘‘In total, we have 77 injured victims so far, most of whom were treated and discharged and two fatalities. May their souls rest in peace, and may God give their loved ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
‘‘I have directed that the medical bills of all victims be covered by the government. We will also be providing temporary accommodation for those whose houses were affected and ensuring that they are supported to rebuild their lives.”
The Oyo governor urged residents to “call 615 for any emergencies they may be experiencing at this time and to remain calm and stay away from the immediate scene of the incident to allow rescue operations to be carried out without interference.”
‘‘We are grateful to the first responders, security personnel and all those who are at the scene to assist with the rescue operations as well as the medical personnel taking care of the injured. Please say a prayer for those who have been affected by this disaster as we continue with the rescue operations,” he said.
Many houses were damaged in the explosion, several kilometres from where the blast occurred.