Osun prosecutes 17 Chinese migrants, accomplices for illegal mining

* We won’t allow foreigners to destroy Nigeria for money ─JTF, Amotekun Chief

* Culprits to pay compensations for resource theft, water pollution

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

For engaging in unlawful mining of Nigeria’s natural resources and polluting water resources for human consumption and irrigation in the state, the Osun State Government has said that 17 Chinese nationals and their nine Nigerian collaborators recently nabbed are to face prosecution.

ConsumerConnect gathered that Abdullahi Binuyo, Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, on the development, said the illegal miners were arrested following a coordinated sting operation around Ilesa and Ile-Ife axis of the state.

In terms of the environmental impacts of illicit mining, Binuyo stated that the illegal miners had polluted the Osun River with poisonous metals, thereby making it unsafe for human consumption and irrigation.

The Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor said: “No responsible government will fold its arms and watch its land being degraded by unauthorised persons.”

Apart from ensuring that those arrested are prosecuted, he disclosed that they would also be made to pay compensations for resource theft.

Amitolu Shittu, Director-General of Amotekun in Osun State, commenting on the situation warned that such unlawful mining activities would not be allowed in the country.

Shittu said: “We will not allow them to destroy Nigeria because of money; the JTF and Amotekun are ready for battle.

“Above all, those who are into illegal mining should desist from such, no matter their position in the society.

“We cannot continue to keep quiet and watch them ruin the commonwealth of Nigeria.”

However, May Zam, one of the Chinese suspects arrested, said she was not aware they were engaged in illegal mining.

Zam explained that she worked for different companies, and believed they should have mining licences to explore and exploit resources in the state.

The current company she works, she added, for has a Nigerian sponsor.

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