Written By Henry Olamilekan Ojo.

“The moral test of Government is how Government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.” — Hubert H. Humphrey, Jr.

For decades, the people of Ijeshaland in Osun State lived peacefully from the resources of their land. Farmers cultivated cocoa, banana, cassava, and yams. Rivers provided drinking water, fishing, and livelihoods. Forests protected communities while generations built their future from the soil.

Today, many of those lands bear visible signs of environmental degradation.

What was once fertile farmland in Ilesha and surrounding communities is now increasingly affected by excavation pits, polluted streams, and growing environmental concerns linked to mining activities. Community members and local stakeholders say the mining situation in parts of Ijeshaland has evolved beyond an environmental concern into a broader livelihood and public health challenge.

This article reflects the views and analysis of the author based on community accounts, publicly available reports, media investigations, and discussions held during a civil society community accountability engagement on mining governance in Osun State.

Mining Activities in Ijeshaland Are Raising Serious Community Concerns

The promise of mineral wealth in Osun State has brought growing concerns to several communities across Ijeshaland. According to the discussion during the community engagement and accountability meeting, residents in communities including Atorin-Ijesha, Itagunmodi, Imosan, Araromi, Opa, and Farebami expressed concerns over the environmental and social impacts associated with alleged illegal and poorly regulated mining activities.

The concerns raised during community discussions and publicly available reports include:

• Farmland destruction
• Water pollution
• Community displacement concerns
• Flooding and erosion
• Weak institutional response

For many residents, the central concern is that communities experiencing the environmental and social consequences of mining are not proportionately benefiting from the resources extracted from their land.

Farmland and Forests Across Ijeshaland Are Under Pressure

For many families in Ijeshaland, farming is not just an occupation but the foundation of household survival and local economic stability. However, community members report that expanding mining activities and excavation operations have increasingly affected farmlands, forests, and traditional agricultural livelihoods in several communities.

Multiple reports from the Urban Alert/ OAU Research in 2024 and Punch Investigations published in December 2024, which were cited at the community engagement and accountability meeting, show that:

• 87% of respondents reported farmland destruction
• 74% reported flooding and erosion concerns
• 55% reported displacement or loss of access to land

Entire communities are witnessing significant environmental changes across ancestral lands. In Atorin-Ijesha, traditional ruler Oba Omololu Afilaka, according to a report in The Sun, described the scale of change brought by heavily mechanised mining operations:

“Before the Chinese came, we had artisanal miners. They could only bite as much as they could chew. Then came the big players — the Chinese illegal miners — and they came with excavators.”

The statement reflects growing community concerns about the scale and intensity of mechanised mining activities in parts of Osun State.

Rivers and Water Sources Are Facing Pollution Concerns

One of the most significant concerns repeatedly raised by affected communities relates to water contamination linked to mining activities. Environmental reports by Urban Alert and other researchers warned that over two million residents in Osun State may face exposure risks associated with lead, mercury, and cyanide contamination connected to mining activities.

Some environmental analyses cited during advocacy engagements also reported heavy metal concentrations in parts of the Osun River exceeding recommended World Health Organization thresholds.

Breaking it further, the advocacy engagement indicated that:

• More than 20 communities face challenges accessing clean drinking water
• Nine out of ten affected communities reported concerns about water pollution linked to mining activities

For many residents, access to safe water has become increasingly difficult. Community members described situations where households rely on questionable water sources for domestic use due to limited alternatives. Farmers also expressed concerns about the impact of polluted streams on agricultural productivity and fishing activities.

Health Concerns Linked to Mining in Osun Are Increasing

Public health concerns associated with mining activities are also becoming more visible in affected communities. According to discussions and environmental reports referenced during the engagement, vulnerable groups, including children and pregnant women, may face elevated exposure risks from contaminated water and mining-related pollutants.

Communities expressed concerns about possible exposure to:

• Mercury contamination
• Lead poisoning
• Cyanide-related pollution
• Respiratory illnesses
• Waterborne diseases

Some environmental assessments referenced during the engagement suggested that cancer risks associated with heavy metal exposure in certain mining communities may exceed internationally recommended thresholds.

Communities Continue to Demand Stronger Accountability

One of the strongest concerns emerging from community discussions was the perception of weak institutional response to illegal and poorly regulated mining activities. Although Osun State inaugurated the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) in 2021 to strengthen oversight, many residents interviewed during community engagements expressed dissatisfaction with enforcement outcomes and environmental protection efforts. Some residents also alleged that complaints about illegal mining activities often receive limited follow-up response from relevant authorities.

In Farebami community, residents reportedly raised concerns with authorities regarding mining activities affecting their area, but community members said they did not observe significant intervention afterwards.

For many affected residents, the broader concern is that:

• their environmental safety is not adequately protected,
• their livelihoods are becoming increasingly vulnerable,
• and their communities are excluded from major decisions affecting their land and resources.

These concerns raise difficult questions for both federal and state authorities:

• Why do illegal mining concerns persist across affected communities?
• Why do many residents believe environmental laws are weakly enforced?
• Why are host communities often excluded from decision-making processes?
• What long-term environmental recovery plans exist for polluted communities?

One message repeatedly echoed during community discussions was: “Profits leave the community. Pollution stays.” The statement reflects the frustration of many residents who believe the economic benefits of mining rarely translate into visible development within affected communities.

The People of Ijeshaland Are Calling for Action

The environmental and social concerns emerging from Ijeshaland deserve urgent national attention. Natural resources should improve community wellbeing, not deepen environmental vulnerability and economic hardship.

Community members, civil society actors, and stakeholders engaged during the accountability workshop identified several urgent priorities, including:

• Stronger enforcement against illegal mining activities
• Improved transparency in mining governance
• Investigation of illegal mining networks and collaborators
• Environmental cleanup and restoration of polluted water sources
• Provision of safe drinking water to affected communities
• Independent environmental and public health assessments
• Greater community participation in mining-related decision-making
• Protection of livelihoods and support for affected farmers

The people of Ijeshaland are demanding accountability, environmental protection, and inclusion in decisions affecting their future.

And their voices deserve to be heard.

Henry Ojo
Team Lead, Newsworld
henryolamilekan@ngrnewsworld.com