Passengers in two 18 seater buses, said to be miners from Zamfara and Kaduna States have been barred from entering Osun State.
The miners were said to be heading to Ifewara, a town in Atakumosa East Central Local Council Development Area of Osun State, when they were intercepted along Ilesha-Akure Expressway on Thursday.
The Chairman of the LCDA, Busuyi Makanjuola, said: “The two buses carried youths, who are miners from Zamfara and Kaduna States.
“They were going to Ifewara, a town in my LCDA.
“The buses had successfully entered the state before we intercepted them along Ilesha-Akure Expressway and asked them to go back.
“The occupants of each of the vehicles should be more than 18 because they were fully packed.
“We didn’t allow them in.”
In a related development, the State Government has offered more explanation on its statement regarding mining activities and miners in the state.
The further explanation was contained in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Funke Egbemode, on Thursday.
Egbemode said the earlier statement was misrepresented for political purposes.
She said: “We have noticed a misinterpretation of the statement made by the State Government of Osun, in which it sounded an alarm about the activities of illegal miners in the State and those breaching its borders. We are awestruck by the fact that anyone could sieze such logical precautionary response in the midst of a global health emergency, to score cheap political points.
“The State of Osun has been on a total lockdown, and logically, its mines are closed. Unfortunately, we have discovered that certain unscrupulous persons have been sneaking into the State illegally, breaching the State’s borders in the process. The Government of the State of Osun will act only therefore within legal and moral boundaries.
“All we are doing is following Presidential directive that banned all interstate travels and movement.
“The State of Osun has shown highest regards to the respective State Governments of the concerned people by attempting to return them to their places rather than prosecuting them under the State’s Emergency Regulation.
“Every State in the country is upscaling its security measures in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, and other vices. Zamfara State Government, a few days back, arrested some suspected illegal miners in the State.
“If ‘alleged’ illegal miners are abhorred in Zamfara, why then should the State of Osun be crucified for being safety conscious?
“The State Government of Osun recognises the right of every Nigerian to live anywhere within the country. We are a responsible and responsive government that places premium on the health and safety of its people, and we will continue to do everything within our power to protect our people.
“The State Government of Osun believes in the unity of this nation but will not hesitate to take actions against those who breach its borders and try to jeopardize the health of its people.”
