FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SEALED A mining site at Temiloluwa community, Oke-Opa, Ile-Ife, Osun State, over alleged trespass, encroachment, and illegal mining activities.
Saturday PUNCH gathered that the closure of the site followed an outcry by a resident of the area, Adeniyi Adeleke, who claimed that the miners were illegally mining on his land.
According to Adeleke, the miners occupied his land on Wednesday, October 16, and started mining without his consent.
Adeleke, in a video seen by our correspondent, said he never released his land for any mining activities, calling on the government to intervene.
Following the video, which went viral on social media, the Ministry of Solid Minerals sent an inspection team to the site on Friday, October 18.
The ministry, in a letter dated 21st October 2024 and registered MID/OS/EL/104/30, said the mining companies did not have approval or any documentation for their operations.
Confirming the closure of the mining site, Adeleke told Saturday PUNCH that the government had also sealed the equipment being used by the miners on his land.