CHUKS OLUIGBO 
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on Tuesday, 7 July 2026 took bold, proactive steps to tackle emerging security threats within mining communities in the state, demonstrating what serious governance should look like.
At a stakeholders’ conference in Osogbo, the governor announced the establishment of a Mining Community Intelligence Network to curtail the influx of suspected bandits into mining communities, particularly the Ife-Ijesa axis.
As part of this intelligence network, he mandated all major mining communities to constitute a seven-man Community Security Committee within 14 days.
A State Richly Endowed with Mineral Wealth
Osun State boasts of commercial quantities of gold, with an estimated deposit of 20 million ounces, around the Ife-Ijesa axis. Besides gold, the state is also rich in industrial minerals and clays, heavy metals, and ferrous minerals. These include talc, which was recently discovered in commercial quantities near Osogbo and Papa village, kaolin, feldspar, granite, columbite, tantalite (vital for electronics and aerospace alloys), cassiterite (tinstone), and iron ore.
Gold has the most notable commercial-scale operations, the Segilola Gold Project operated by Segilola Resources Operating Limited, a subsidiary of Thor Explorations Ltd.
The state has acquired 19 mineral titles/leases from the Federal Government (because mining falls on the exclusive list of the Federal Government of Nigeria), through the Osun State Investment Promotion Agency, to boost investment opportunities in the sector.
However, as with other mineral-rich states across the country, Osun State faces the challenge of illegal and artisanal miners whose unregulated operations pose severe environmental and social risks, including insecurity.
A Genuine Concern
Across Nigeria’s mining communities, the presence of legitimate commercial operators has not deterred illegal and artisanal miners whose crude operations leave behind huge environmental and social impact. But perhaps more worrisome is that these Illegal activities in mining communities have been linked to organised criminal groups, banditry and mineral smuggling, particularly in the North-West.
At the stakeholders’ conference attended by security chiefs, traditional rulers, mining firms, environmental activists and community actors, Governor Adeleke, represented by his Special Adviser on Security, Mr. Samuel Ojo, said the peace and security of the state, particularly the Ife-Ijesa axis, was under threat and demanded immediate action.
He informed that there were credible security threats about the presence of suspected bandit elements around Ibodi forests and movement of suspicious armed persons around the Ilesa corridor.
“The government is concerned about the sudden and unregulated influx of persons from states like Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi into our mining communities. While we do not discriminate against Nigerians seeking legitimate work, intelligence shows that this movement is not just about mining,” the governor said.
“Some of these elements are bringing with them the same criminal templates that have destroyed communities in the North West: armed camps, illegal taxation, recruitment of youths, and creation of parallel authority. If we do not act now, the peace Osun is known for will be sacrificed on the altar of gold,” he said.
He said even some foreign nationals and non-Nigerians were infiltrating Osun communities.
“They speak local languages, carry fake IDs, and pretend to be from other Nigerian states. Their mission is not mining. Their mission is to establish a base,” the governor said.
Security as a Collective Responsibility
The governor’s meeting with stakeholders made it clear that while the government has the first-line charge over security, securing the communities is a collective responsibility.
Thus, while commending security agencies and other non-state groups who monitor the troubled mining sector, the governor directed community leaders to profile everyone who enters their communities.
“If you did not birth him, if you did not invite him, and you cannot vouch for him, then he does not belong in your community,” he said.
To buttress the collective nature of security, the governor said the newly established Mining Community Intelligence Network would involve mining site operators, Community Security Committee (to be set up in every major mining community), traditional rulers, the DPO, and the State Security Council under the state governor.
“I charge all stakeholders to give maximum cooperation to the Military Police, DSS, NSCDC, and Amotekun. Open your sites for patrols. Share information early. Do not shield criminals because they are ‘bringing money’,” the governor said.
“Osun State will not be a hiding place for bandits. Our gold will not be used to fund terrorism. Let us build this intelligence architecture together. Let us secure our land together,” he said.
The Road Ahead
By his preemptive move against the emerging threat of banditry in Osun mining communities, Governor Ademola Adeleke has demonstrated what true governance should look like. You do not wait until a minor irritation snowballs into an uncontrollable challenge.
Also, by involving all stakeholders, the governor has signalled that the government requires the buy-in and cooperation of community members to effectively secure the communities.
What is now left is for the government to stay the course. Beyond announcements, beyond issuing directives, support the security agencies and communities where necessary. Give them what they require to perform the tasks that they have been assigned. And, more importantly, respond promptly to calls for intervention.
Other states with similar challenges may have something to learn from the Osun example.
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