Over 24,000 farm settlers in the Ago-Owu area of Osun State have raised alarm over a looming eviction threat following a state government directive granting permission for mining exploration within the settlement.
The farmers have called on Governor Ademola Adeleke to intervene and halt any planned activities that may disrupt farming operations and displace thousands of livelihoods.
The President of the Ago-Owu Farm Settlers, Adebanji Obembe, made the appeal directly to the state governor and the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun.
Obembe revealed that a letter issued by the Special Adviser on Mining and Minerals, Lukman Jimoda, permitted a private company to carry out mineral tests and exploration within parts of the farm settlement.
Obembe said such action contradicted the original agreement made between the farmers and the state government, which granted them 99 years of usage on the land.
He explained, “The Ago-Owu of today has increased from 4,676 hectares at inception to 16,000 hectares, and the population has grown from 2,000 to over 24,000 settlers.”;
According to him, 70 percent of the current settlers are youths, mostly graduates who turned to agriculture due to unemployment, while the remainder are elderly retirees investing their savings in farming.
“The introduction of mining activities on our farmland will result in forced eviction and loss of livelihood for thousands of families,”; he lamented.
Obembe warned that the displacement could trigger widespread hardship and insecurity, as jobless youths may be pushed into urban areas without support.
“We urge Governor Adeleke and the Speaker to immediately stop any attempt to initiate mining within Ago-Owu. This land is our only source of income,”; he pleaded.
He reiterated the settlers’ position that any mining activity would breach the 99-year land use agreement and must be resisted in order to safeguard the community.
“Our existence is tied to this land. Any disruption could cause untimely deaths and rising criminal activity among displaced residents,”; Obembe added.
In response, the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, assured the farmers that the government had not authorised mining operations yet.
He confirmed that a company expressed interest in conducting tests to assess mineral presence on part of the land, but no mining activity had commenced.
“If the farmers observe any mining attempt, they should report immediately. We are only at the testing stage. No exploration or excavation is happening yet.
“We acknowledge that the land belonged to the state, even though mineral resources fall under federal control. We promise that the farmers’ rights would be protected,”; Alimi said.
Alimi added, “In the event minerals are discovered and mining is eventually approved, affected farmers will be adequately compensated.”;
He stated that the Special Adviser on Mining had already engaged with the farmers and advised them to remain calm while the process follows due procedure.
The Commissioner emphasised that the government remains committed to protecting its citizens and will not endorse any activity that disregards existing agreements or disrupts livelihoods.
