Oyo Govt Mandates LG Chairmen to Set up Task Force Against Illegal Mining, Kidnappings, Land grabbing •Two Baales Under Investigation Says Govt
The Oyo State Government has mandated all the 33 local government chairmen to establish Joint Task Force (JTF), to combat the rising wave of kidnapping, illegal mining and land grabbing within their territories and environs.
This was disclosed to newsmen on Tuesday after a stakeholders meeting at the conference room of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matter.
Speaking after the meeting, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matter, Hon Olusegun Olayiwola noted that the coming of the JTF would bridge the existing gap in policing and intelligence gathering against those that are perpetrating insecurity in the state.
According to him, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has vested powers in the local government chairmen as the chief security officer of their respective councils.
He added that the council chairmen are henceforth saddled with the responsibility of taking charge of the security situations in their domains. Goalpoacher News quoted the Honourable Commissioner as saying: “The major point that was extensively discussed today, is the issue of security of lives and property in Oyo state. You will recall that about three weeks ago, there was an explosion at Bodija , Ibadan which eventually turned out to be as a result of illegal activities of illegal or legal miners that are not supposed to keep such terrible equipment in residential areas.
” As a result of this , Chairmen and chairpersons in the 33 local government areas of Oyo state were invited to the office of the Hon. Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters thud Monday and after the end of the meeting, we decided to address the press on the outcome of the meeting.
” Security situation in Oyo state is very fluid , and as a result of this, the chairmen and chairpersons in the 33 local governments of Oyo state have decided that the three critical areas that the people and government of Oyo state need to look into are in the area 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 the centre stage of the insecurity of lives and property of the citizens of Oyo state now and the meeting discussed this extensively today and decided that forrtwith, the chairmen and chairwomen of the local government are being saddled with the responsibility of taking charge of the security situations of their local government as the construction of the federal republic of Nigeria have given them the power to do as the chief security officers of their local government.
“The local government chairmen and chairpersons are to set up task force in their various councils on these three areas and report back to the state government and this would be forwarded to the Governor. ”
On his part, the ALGON Chairman in Oyo State, Hon Sanda Sikiru Oyedele would take the bull by the horns by tackling the menace constitited by activities of illegal miners, land grabbing and kidnappings.
The Egbeda council chairman urged his colleagues to key into the state government’s directive by setting up security surveillance in their various councils.
“I remember about couple of weeks ago, there was an explosion around Bodija in Ibadan North Local Government. You could see that the Governor took the bull by the horn with his prompt action to ensure such does not happen again.
“That’s the reason why we are all here. We will go back to our various local government areas and ensure security surveillance in every nook and cranny of our domains.
“I want to assure you that after this meeting, we will ensure that under our watch, there will not be any illegal mining and criminality in our area.
After today’s meeting, there will be further engagements with our traditional rulers and we all know that the present administration in the state doesn’t take security issues with levity.”
Also speaking at the stakeholders meeting, the Director-General, Oyo State Mineral Development Agency, Hon Abiodun OniOni charged the local government chairmen to form a synergy with traditional institutions in their various domains by bringing everybody on board to have sense of belonging.
He urged all stakeholders to take up the responsibility of security in their locals and a sounded a note of warning to any traditional ruler found issuing consent letters to illegal miners without approval from the state government.
“The closet arm of government to the grassroot is the local government. What happened a few weeks ago in the city of Ibadan belongs to a local government.
“I’m glad about the decisions we have taken here, especially the salient points that were discussed as regards security where mining that I supervise comes in which borders a whole lot on security.
“All our chairmen should go back home and have meetings with their traditional rulers and all critical stakeholders with regards to mining.
It’s very important that we bring everybody on board and give everyone ownership that whatever that is happening in your backyard is your responsibility, not just that of the governor or the government.
“As we speak, there are about two Baales and a king that are being investigated for signing letters of consent, the Executive Order signed by the Governor says you shouldn’t sign any letter of consent without discussing with the Ministry of Justice and Solid Minerals Agency but we still have our people disregarding this Order and went ahead to sign a consent letter without consultation and invitation, this has to stop.”
The meeting was attended by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matter, Hon Agberemi Ramota, and permanent secretary of the local government.
