Osun Farmers’ Fears Quelled: Adeleke Vows No Mining Evictions

Panic in the Fields in the fertile farmlands of Ago-Owu, Osun State, a wave of fear gripped over 24,000 farmers as rumours swirled that their livelihoods were at risk. The settlers, who have tilled the soil for decades, raised the alarm after spotting strangers poking around their fields. They feared the state government was plotting to hand their land to miners, threatening to uproot their lives. But Governor Ademola Adeleke has stepped in with a firm promise: no farmer will be evicted for mining.A Cry for Help the panic began when a letter from Lukman Jimoda, the state’s Special Adviser on Mining and Minerals, surfaced, granting a private company permission to conduct mineral tests in the Ago-Owu settlement. For farmers like Adebanji Obembe, president of the settlers, this felt like a betrayal of the 99-year land-use agreement they signed with the state. With 16,000 hectares now home to thousands of families, the thought of displacement was a nightmare. Obembe pleaded with Adeleke and the Speaker of the Osun House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, to stop any mining moves that could shatter their community.Adeleke’s Reassurance on May 1, 2025, Adeleke moved swiftly to douse the tension. In a statement from his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor clarified that the activities on the farmlands were part of a state-wide survey by the Solid Minerals Office, not a prelude to mining. The officials, he explained, were mapping Osun’s mineral potential through soil tests—a routine step to catalog the state’s resources. “There is no plan to evict farmers for mining activities,” Adeleke declared, urging calm and cooperation with state officials. He stressed that no mining has been approved, especially in Ago-Owu, and any future steps would prioritize farmers’ rights.A Fragile Peace the state’s Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, backed Adeleke’s words, admitting that a company had shown interest in testing for minerals but insisting no mining was underway. If minerals are found and mining is ever greenlit, Alimi promised, affected farmers would be fairly compensated. For now, the farmers are urged to keep working their fields without fear. The governor’s commitment to agriculture runs deep, with Adeleke vowing never to harm the farming community that feeds Osun.What’s at StakeAgo-Owu’s settlers aren’t just fighting for land—they’re fighting for survival. Farming is their only income, and any disruption could spell hunger and unrest. Adeleke’s quick response has eased nerves, but the farmers remain watchful. With mineral resources under federal control and land under state authority, the tension between development and livelihoods lingers. For now, Osun’s farmers hold their ground, trusting the governor’s word but ready to defend their fields. This is more than a land dispute—it’s a test of whether progress can coexist with the people who sustain it.