Stakeholders in Kwara state have blamed the present spate of insecurity in the various communities across the state to the incursion of illegal mining operators doing businesses in the state.
A civic advocacy group under the aegis of One Kwara Agenda led by Mr. Femi Adetola dropped the hint to newsmen at the weekendin Ilorin, the state capital on the present prevailing insecurity situations in the state.
He said that investigation carried out revealed areas where insecurity pervades are the beds of solid minerals in the state.
According to him, “Insecurity affects all of us. Thus, it should be our collective concern.
“And you don’t wait until you are in any position to take action. We’ve never had it so bad.
“People will say insecurity is a national problem, but all this while it had been a national problem, it’s never been like that here. Why now?”.
He added, “In the course of our own interaction, so to say, with people in the affected parts of the state, as solution activists, diagnosing the problem, we discovered that the incursion of illegal miners into our society has been enormous. And it’s one of the things that has brought the problem which we’re experiencing now.
“Go to all the areas where this insecurity pervades, you’ll agree with me that they are the beds of solid minerals. Though, we could have pockets of kidnappers etc, but what made it a statewide problem now is the incursion of the illegal miners”.
Adetola, who suggested reinvigoration of community policing in the state to combat the menace, said that stakeholders had relaxed on the matter in recent time.
He also said that some traditional rulers in the affected areas did little or nothing to help the situation because of what they expect to get on land.
“That’s part of the advocacy we’re doing now. In that, we need to understand the problem before we start thinking of how and what to do to proffer solution”, he maintained.
The convener of One Kwara Agenda also said that the fight against insecurity requires collective efforts and not that of a single stakeholder, saying that, “Let us all be concerned that an injury to one is an injury to all. Insecurity in one Kwara village should concern us all. If we take it that way, definitely, we would find solution to it”.
He also charged government to be open and transparent in the fight insecurity, saying that government should carry people along. “Let them see that what you are doing is for them. With that, aparthy would be ruled out.
He opined further that, “Ours is in the area of public advocacy as we’re not security apparatus. We’re solution activists. Were concerned with a system that works for all. If we’re together we’ll have a shared prosperity”.
On political development ahead of 2027 general elections, Adetola enjoined stakeholders to put merit, competence, and people-driven agenda above other consideration, as against divisive tendencies.
Hammed Shittu
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