Four mining operators arrested as Governor Makinde shuts down mining facility

A facility reportedly used by suspected illegal miners to process and package lithium out of Oyo state was on Saturday, February 24, shut down by Governor Seyi Makinde. 

Makinde’s chief press secretary, Sulaimon Olarewaju, said his principal ordered the closure of the facility which was originally a factory meant for recycling batteries and tyres.

He also ordered the arrest of four persons suspected to be operating at the site, noting that they operated against the approved licence secured from the government for business operations in the state.

Preliminary investigation of the factory site at Idi Ayunre, Oluyole Local Government Area, Ibadan, revealed that it was being operated by some Chinese.

He also noted that while the federal government issued an operational licence to the miners in line with constitutional provision; there will always be security threats and concerns when states do not have an input in the issuance of mining licences.

It was also noted that the state government would take over the illegal factory facility through a court process until it gets to the bottom of the matter.