The Olofin Adimulaa of Ado-Odo in Ogun State, Oba Olusola Osolo, has raised the alarm over the activities of miners in his community.

Oba Osolo said the mining activities were claiming the lives of his people, calling on the government to intervene in the matter.

According to the monarch, a resident of the community, Emmanuel Akande, died recently after falling into a pit dug by the miners.

BEYOND AFRICA gathered that Akande was walking around a mining site at Iloro, Ado-Odo, when he slipped, fell into a pit, and drowned on October 4, 2024.

Some people who confirmed the incident said the deceased fell into an uncovered mined pit allegedly dug by St. Gole Limited, one of the mining companies in the area.

It was gathered that Oba Osolo, through his solicitor, Kunle Apena, petitioned Ado-Odo Police Divisional on October 7, 2024, asking the police to probe the activities of the miners.

The petition partly read, “Our clients have, in the past, held several meetings with miners in Ado-Odo, demanding that they comply with safety measures, have safety barricades in their sites, and work within environmental laws and regulations, but they have always turned deaf ears. Should the site have been properly barricaded or with proper signage, Mr. Emmanuel Akande would have sensed danger and moved far away not to have slipped, fallen, and drowned.”

He mentioned that other mining companies in the area include Glowton Nig Limited, Jamhsey Nig Limited, Kaadkim Akebaje Nig Limited, Tal-tan Nig Limited, John & Sons Nig Limited, Walks Nig Limited, St. Gole Limited, and seven others.

Speaking with newsmen, Oba Osolo said two children had died at some mining areas before he emerged as the king, adding that the miners usually dig the ground in farms and abandoned them.

He said innocent people slipped into the uncovered pit and died.

Oba Osolo said, “A lot of people have died because of the miners’ activities. Whenever anyone dies, they bury them secretly. But one person recently saw and reported them to the police.

“When I became the king, I noticed that most of them were operating on an illegal basis. I called them all to a roundtable meeting to know who the legal miners were, and I was told I had no right. The Federal Government has also confirmed that most of them are illegal miners.”

The monarch expressed worry that there were no safety measures at the various mining sites in the community.

“They have even destroyed our roads with their heavy-duty trucks,” he lamented.

Speaking on the matter, Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, confirmed that illegal mining activities were taking place at Ado-Odo.

Oresanya stated that the state had stopped the illegal miners and land reclamation.

He said, “The state is collaborating with the Minister of Solid Minerals, who has given us express approval to stop miners (even with licenses) because they don’t have the right to mine irresponsibly. We are set to regulate, big or small miners, across the state. We won’t allow mining illegally.”

When asked if the state was aware of the death case, he said there was no formal report, maintaining that the state would have taken steps to get justice for the deceased if the case had been brought to it.

The spokesperson for Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed Akande’s death.

Confirming in a statement, it read, “Milekan Ajayi reported to the station that his mechanic, 21-year-old Emmanuel Akande went to the riverbank to wash himself but unfortunately slipped and drowned.”

Odutola added that the police had no interest in mining and its duty was to protect lives and property.