The Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA), in collaboration with the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) and security operatives, has arrested five suspects over alleged illegal excavation of laterite and gravel at Akufo Farm Settlement in Ido Local Government Area of the state. The joint enforcement operation……
The Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA), in collaboration with the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) and security operatives, has arrested five suspects over alleged illegal excavation of laterite and gravel at Akufo Farm Settlement in Ido Local Government Area of the state.
The joint enforcement operation followed reports of unauthorised excavation and removal of laterite and gravel from agricultural land managed by OYSADA.
According to a statement by the Chairperson of OYRLEA, Honourable Justice Aderonke A. Aderemi (retd.), the enforcement team intercepted and impounded a trailer “fully loaded with laterite and gravel” as it was leaving the farm settlement.
Five suspects allegedly linked to the excavation activities were also arrested during the operation.
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An inspection of the area reportedly revealed multiple points of suspected illegal excavation, including some within existing plantations.
The authorities said the excavation had caused significant damage to agricultural land, with a cassava plantation among the areas affected.
According to the statement, mature cassava crops that were reportedly ready for harvest had been destroyed and left to waste as a result of the excavation.
The authorities said the development raised concerns about the impact of illegal mining and excavation activities on agricultural production and food security in the state.
An excavator allegedly used to excavate and load the laterite and gravel was also impounded, although its operator was not found at the scene.
“Freshly prepared food and other personal belongings were found around the abandoned equipment, suggesting that the operator may have fled shortly before or upon sighting the enforcement team,” the statement said.
The scale of the alleged excavation also came under scrutiny, with one of the farmers claiming that not less than 50 trailer-loads of laterite and gravel were being removed from the farm daily.
The authorities said the claim raised concerns over the extent of the activities and their potential impact on the agricultural objectives of the farm settlement.
They stressed that the unauthorised excavation and removal of laterite and gravel from government agricultural land was unlawful and posed a serious threat to the preservation and development of the settlement.
The five suspects, whose identities were withheld, are being detained at the Amotekun Corps Divisional Headquarters in Ido Local Government Area pending further investigation and arraignment before a court of competent jurisdiction.
OYRLEA and OYSADA reaffirmed their commitment to protecting government agricultural assets and enforcing regulations against activities capable of undermining the state’s agricultural development initiatives.
