Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State, revealed the arrest of some people who were illegally processing minerals mined from a site in Idi-Ayunre, Oluyole LGA.
The governor said this was part of the measures to avoid another Bodija explosion, which caused deaths and damages in January 2024.He urged the citizens to report any security threats to the authorities by calling 615, a toll-free number.
The explosion in Bodija, which happened on January 16, 2024, was due to explosives that were stored unlawfully in a residential area.
The people living in Adeyi Avenue in Bodija, where the blast occurred, accused Malian miners of being responsible for the incident that shook the city that night.
Oyo Affairs, a news outlet in Oyo State, said the governor directed the arrest of four suspects who were running the site, adding that they violated the licence that the government gave them for doing business in the state.
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Makinde posted, “We went to Idi-Ayunre after getting a tip about a site where minerals mined illegally were being processed.“I can confirm that we have arrested those involved and they are in custody.
We are preparing to prosecute them.“We have also seized the site until the investigations and prosecution are over.
“We caught the offenders because the government and the people worked together quickly to stop their activities.”
The governor also mentioned the difficulty of bringing the Malians involved in the Bodija explosion to justice.He posted, “I want to inform you that we are still trying to get the Malians who took part in the Bodija Incident and ran away.
“It is hard because Mali is no longer in ECOWAS. We will keep using diplomatic ways to make sure they face the law.
“Please say something when you see something and the authorities will do something. Call 615, the toll-free number, when you notice any security risks.”
The explosion in Bodija, which happened on January 16, 2024, was due to explosives that were stored unlawfully in a residential area.
The people living in Adeyi Avenue in Bodija, where the blast occurred, accused Malian miners of being responsible for the incident that shook the city that night.
