Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday, said there was no plan to evict farmers in Ago Owu community of Ayedaade Local Government Area over a proposed mining of their farmlands.

Farm settlers numbering about 24,000, on Wednesday, expressed concern over the letter by the Special Adviser to the state government on Mining and Minerals, Prof. Lukman Jimoda, which granted permission to a company to carry out test and exploration within the farm settlement with a view to mining on the land.

The spokesperson for the farm settlers, Adebanji Obembe, expressed worry over the imminent forceful ejection of settlers, who are mostly youths and the aged, arguing that the development may deprive them of their source of livelihood.

However, while reacting in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke explained that activities allegedly seen on some farmlands were part of the ongoing mapping of the entire state by the state’s solid minerals office.

According to Rasheed, state officials were moving around various towns and villages to implement the state-wide solid minerals survey, which involves soil testing among others.

The initiative is to avail the state government of assets in various sectors, assuring that the governor approved the exercise as part of his integrated efforts to consolidate exploited or unexploited resources of the state.

“The governor reassures the farming community that there is no plan to evict farmers for mining activities. If you see people around, it is part of a statewide ongoing survey of state assets,” he said

“We encourage cooperation with state officials, especially as there are no approved mining activities in the areas of protest.

“Our governor understands the importance of the farming community and would not approve any decision that may be injurious to farmers or any resident or citizen of Osun State. Our farmers in the affected areas are therefore enjoined to peacefully continue their farm activities.”