Oyo State Govt Suspends Oba Over Illegal Mining Involvement

The Oyo State Government has suspended the Onido of Ido Land, Oba Gbolagade Muritala Babalola (Gbadewolu I), in a bid to apprehend anyone, regardless of position in society, linked to the January 16th explosion.

Prince Dotun Oyelade, the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, revealed that the government’s decision to arrest the King was a tough decision in the right direction of sending warning signals to those aiding and abetting within the state territory.

However, the commissioner further stated that Onido’s arrest was followed by an intelligent report linking him to illegal miners in the Ido Local government area of the state.

In the light of our recent experience and government daily efforts to rid our land of criminals, we are sending the signal to all like-minded elements to vacate our zone or be caught and brought to justice,” The commissioner said.

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, had earlier stated his commitment to restore peace disrupted by illegal miners in the state.

Meanwhile, the alleged perpetrator of the explosion, Sawane Youssouf, colloquially known as Mali, still remains at large, a freeman posting Arabic content on his Facebook page daily.

Read more: US Reaffirms Commitment to Support Peace and Tolerance in Nigeria

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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Mayowa Durosinmi is a Nigerian investigative reporter for West Africa Weekly with reports focusing on politics, human rights, security and health in West Africa and the Sahel region.

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