Oyo community demands eviction of mining company

By Oluseye Ojo

Residents and leaders of Itasa community in Oyo State have raised the alarm over the operations of a mining company they claimed poses a significant threat to their safety and environment.

During a recent visit to the mining site, community leaders expressed their urgent need for the Federal Government to compel the company to vacate their land, accusing it of illegal operations and lacking essential permits such as a valid Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and a Community Development Agreement (CDA).

Notable community figures in the area, including Prof Bayo Aborisade and Alhaji Banji Odedele, have been raising concerns about increasing insecurity and environmental degradation linked to the mining activities. Aborisade said armed individuals allegedly protecting the mining site have been preventing locals from accessing their lands.

“This company is extracting minerals while the community suffers. The presence of people in settlements around the mining site creates a dangerous environment. We demand that this mining company leaves our land.”

The community legal representative, Femi Aborisade, insisted that a particular mining company has been violating mining laws by operating without necessary agreements with the community.

Naajeem Busari, the councillor, representing Ward 04 in Iwajowa Local Government Legislative House, drew attention to the ongoing issues with crop destruction by herdsmen, purportedly worsened by the mining company’s presence.

Onitile of Itasa, Oba Michael Oyediran, backed the community’s demands, urging the government to ensure mining activities align with proper legal protocols for the sake of peace and development in the region.

A lawyer with Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Ibadan, Olufola Awoyemi, who was part of those who visited the community, said:

“We thought it was a mere environmental injustice but getting there, it’s more than that. There are security issues and people are angry because there is a great danger to lives of the people of Itasa and its environs.”

But an official of the company insisted that no laws were disobeyed. “We got a valid mining licence to operate here. We obtained the consent of the community. We have a valid mining site. We have valid title to operate here.”