Oyo: Suspected Illegal Miners Arrested With Truck Loads Of Solid Minerals
Kayode Oguntona, Oyo
Latest efforts aimed at curbing illegal activities of criminal elements operating inside government forest reserves in Oyo state appear to be yielding fruitful results following the arrest of three illegal miners.
They were reportedly apprehended during a stop and search operation embarked upon by authorities of the Old Oyo National Park at a village junction along Igbetti – Ogbomoso – Ilorin road last weekend.
The illegally mined solid minerals are believed to be lithium, a core ingredient in the manufacturing of batteries.
Parading the suspects at the Park’s headquarters in Oyo town, the Conservator of Parks, Mr. Teslim Adeniyi – Kareem gave their names as Umar, Gafar Idris and Taye Gafar, describing their arrest as welcome development.
Mr. Kareem explained that over fifty similar arrests have been made in the past, saying it was regrettable that the Park also lost two of its gallant officers in the process.
He commended the Conservator General of the National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni for moral and logistic support in the fight against criminality in the National Parks and urged communities located near the forest reserves to promptly report any suspicious activity going on in their area.
The CP gave assurance that the suspects would face prosecution at the appropriate time.
