1 month ago
36
Igbeti, the headquarters of Olorunsogo Local Government Area, located in the Northern part of Oyo State, is currently grappling with a complex interplay of economic opportunities and security challenges.
Igbeti is renowned for her endowment with an extensive deposit of marble, which experts have lauded as possessing the highest quality.
The town’s marble reserves have historically served as a primary source of sustenance for numerous individuals for decades, yet the sector has been compromised by criminal endeavours, resulting in a significant increase in insecurity.
Kunzite Powder
Aside from marble and other gemstones, Igbeti is also blessed with Kunzite powder.
Naija News understands that Kunzite is used in the making of certain medicines, POP, toothpaste, ceramics and batteries due to its metaphysical properties.
In Nigeria, this natural resource could also be found in places like Jos, Plateau State, Nisama, and Antah in Kaduna State.
The demand for this natural resource, utilized in both construction and decoration, has drawn in both investors and labourers alike to Igbeti and Oke-Ogun in general in recent years.
Nonetheless, the mining sector in this region has been beset by a deficiency in regulatory oversight, permitting the expansion of illicit mining operations.
These unmonitored activities have provided a conducive environment for criminal organizations to thrive.
The inherent permeability of the mining locations, in conjunction with the surge in individuals in search of employment, has presented a challenge for security agencies in maintaining effective surveillance.
As a result, armed robbery, kidnapping, and other violent offences have escalated in frequency.
The once serene community now finds itself in a state of fear, with both residents and miners becoming vulnerable targets of these criminal endeavours.
Fear Of The Unknown
Recently, residents were thrown into worries following the abduction of a renowned individual in the town.
Naija News authoritatively gathered that a certain influential individual (name withheld for security reasons) was recently whisked away by armed men from his place of business.
The assailants are said to have arrived at night while the individual and his employees were taking records for the business day.
They shot sporadically in the air, picked their target and drove out of the town heading towards Saki, another popular town in the Oke-Ogun axis of Oyo State.
Prior to this incident, there have been reports of kidnapping and robbery along mining sites in the town of Igbeti.
However, the recent incident caused fears among residents and security agencies as the kidnappers, after whisking the businessman away, refused to contact the family or associate for ransom even after days of the abduction.
Following this development, residents have been warned to avoid late-night activities as security operatives swung into action to secure lives and properties while making efforts to comb the reserves in the axis in search of criminal elements.
This has since thrown residents into fear of the unknown as families warn their wards to move about carelessly.
Joint Security Operation
Security operatives combining officers of the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Army, Amotekun Corps, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Vigilantees, recently embarked on a joint operation to comb the Old Oyo National Part that cuts across the towns in the northern part of Oyo State.
Naija News reports that security operatives are sceptical about informing the public, and reporters of the events that unfolded during the joint operation.
Our correspondent, who visited the office of the Amotekun Corps and spoke with the commandant of the security agency, was denied details of the recent operation.
The Amotekun head also refused to disclose whether there were arrests and rescues made during this operation.
“Look, I cannot and will not disclose any detail about the insecurity, or security operations to you. I will not do that,” the Amotekun Commander said.
Also, upon visiting the police division in the local government headquarters, our correspondent was told that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) was not on the seat and, even if he was, would not provide details about the developments.
A top officer, however, advised a visit to the Area Command.
Without hesitation, our correspondent journeyed there to meet with the Area Commander. Unfortunately, he was also not available till the time of filing this report.
One Inspector Olumuyiwa at the Area Command, however, mentioned that the investigation is still ongoing and no details could be disclosed yet about the recent joint operation.
Residents, however, told Naija News that arrests were made and individuals were rescued from kidnappers’ dens inside the Old Oyo National Park – reserves areas during this holistic joint operation.
Also, it was asserted that some of the kidnappers were killed while some were captured, a development no security agency has spoken about.
Furthermore, the influential individual who was kidnapped from his place of business in Igbeti was reportedly rescued.
However, no comment has been issued on whether ransom was paid or not for his release or whether he was rescued at gunpoint from the hands of his abductors.
Mining: What I Know About The Insecurity In Igbeti, Oke-Ogun
However, top security personnel pleaded not to be mentioned in the print due to the sensitivity of the situation and because security operatives are still monitoring the situation, shared his view of growing insecurity in the region.
The source told Naija News how the mining of Kunzite came to be in Igbeti and how the involvement of politicians, traditional rulers, and notable individuals would make it very difficult for the government to stop.
The source shared: “My experience with the insecurity and mining in that area… Whil I was in charge there, the mining caused a lot of crime rate in the community. And the rice smugglers, too, made the crime rate increase and as well decrease.
“What I mean is that, like the smugglers now, when they are in business, you will find out that they will concentrate on that line of business, and hence the crime rate will reduce.
“But once they stop them and they are not doing any smuggling activities, because they are used to getting free money, getting money around them, also used to living large, they will want to engage in any criminal activity in other to meet up.
“Once they are not engaged in mining, they engage in other illegal activities, kidnapping, armed robbery, and so…
The Hausas discovered the Mining
Speaking further, the source said: “The Hausas discovered this mining. As time went on, they kept bringing their people from the North into that place. And the local authorities were not observant.
“As they keep on increasing in number, they now want to protect themselves from impending attacks. The increased number of northerners in that mining has led to increased crime activities. Because once there is no mining activity, they engage in crime. Or if they are getting less than what they want.
“You know, as they come to the local government, they came with arms and whatever to protect those who are mining.
“So once they are not engaged in all that mining, or if they mined in the morning and could not get enough from there, with their weapon, they now engage in other criminal activities.
“Now, about that mining, everyone in the community is involved. They are all working for a share. So it will be difficult to stop. That mining will be difficult to stop. Because if the government is about to take action, they will always know.
“But if the mining is stopped, the crime rate will increase. So what those guys are doing is, they mine in the morning and in the night, they come out and do illegal activities.
“They have seen so much money in that mining, so it will be difficult for them to accept to go back to zero. So instead of them going down, they will rather engage in illegal activities.”
The Government Needs To Legalize The Mining, Give Licence To Individuals
“So the government needs to balance it. That mining is done illegally. So the government needs to give individuals mining licenses to take control of that place.
“If the government wants to stop the mining and send out everybody from that place, the issue of insecurity will become worse.”
Speaking about the license, he said, “That giving just one person a license is not a good thing. The place where the mining is done is a forest, and the law prohibits any such activities in that forest.
“However, the government have to legalize mining activities first in that place before issuing mining licenses to individuals. This will curb any issues with law enforcement agencies.
“Then the government must not monopolize the license as those who have been there will want to fight back. This is something they have been doing before; they will not allow someone to just come and stop them from getting money.”
English (US) ·