By 
By Abiodun OBA
A facility originally meant for recycling batteries and tyres now being used to process and package lithium by suspected illegal miners out of Oyo state has been shut down.
Governor Seyi Makinde, according to his chief press secretary, Sulaimon Olarewaju, ordered the closure of the facility, and arrest of four persons suspected to be operating at the site, noting that they operated against the approved licence secured from the government for business operations in the state.
Makinde was reportedly on an unscheduled inspection tour to the factory site at Idi Ayunre, Oluyole Local Government Area, Ibadan.
The governor reportedly said that a preliminary investigation revealed that the factory was being operated by some Chinese.
He added that though the federal government issued an operational licence to the miners in line with constitutional provision, there will always be security threats and concerns when states do not have an input in the issuance of mining licences.
The governor explained that the factory and its operators had contravened Executive Order 001 of 2024 on the safe handling of harmful substances, noting that the arrested factory workers would be prosecuted accordingly.
The governor was also reported to have said that the state government would take over the illegal factory facility through a court process.
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