Although these two sacred periods are different due to difference in religious beliefs, the period of Lent and Ramadan preach the same message that true sacrifice is not when we do not eat or how little what we place on the table is, but it is about how we live, not just with dignity, but in true compassion towards one another.

In many homes, fasting is the most visible sign of these seasons for both Christians and Muslims. People skip meals or reduce portions, and set aside their comfort as well as their hobbies, for the period.

Fasting is not meant to be punishment, but a means and time to examine our hearts, habits, and relationships. When practiced sincerely, it improves self-control, discipline and awakens empathy for those who live daily with hunger and hardship.

However, the most important lessons of Lent and Ramadan begin when fasting ends. One of the deepest teachings during both seasons is discipline, which is taught by saying no to food for a period. This act of discipline strengthens the determination to say no to excess, to anger, dishonesty, and selfishness.

In everyday life, this discipline shows up when a person chooses to be patient instead of getting angry when others upset us. It can also be in form of honesty over shortcuts at work, or faithfulness over convenience in relationships.

These silent, personal choices are sacrifices that demand more than skipping a meal. These choices to be sacred and disciplined require character.

Read Also: From Worship Halls to Hangouts: How Nigerians Navigate Faith and Leisure

Another lesson is empathy. Hunger softens the heart. It reminds us how fragile comfort can be and how easily dignity can be stripped away by lack. This awareness is meant to move us beyond sympathy into action. True sacrifice is seen when fasting inspires generosity: feeding the hungry, supporting a struggling neighbor, paying attention to the lonely, or advocating for justice where systems have failed. Without compassion, fasting becomes a hollow ritual; with it, fasting becomes a force for social healing.

The most underestimated sacrifice of all is that both seasons encourage prayerfulness, reflection, and study of the Holy Books – the Bible and the Quran. This involves taking out moments from busy schedules and silencing distractions. It also means being fully present with God, as said in Quran 2: 183 that “You who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may be mindful of God”.

In a world where noise has taken over, choosing to be in seclusion or quietness of heart is an act of resistance. It is a sacrifice that teaches us to listen more carefully to divine guidance, to our conscience, and to one another. The Holy Bible tells us in Matthew 6:16–18 that “Moreover when you fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face; that you appear not unto men to fast, but unto your Father which is in secret: and your Father, which sees in secret, shall reward you openly.” This is to tell us that fasting should be sincere and inward, not for public display.

Also important is the sacrifice of ego. These sacred periods bring humility, which is; acknowledging our flaws, seeking forgiveness, and making amends with people and God. True sacrifice happens when pride is laid down, when we offer apologies without excuses, and when we work towards reconciliation instead of revenge. Such humility strengthens relationships among friends and families, heals friendships, and builds a better community where there is mutual respect and love.

There is also the lesson of consistency. The duration of Lent and Ramadan teaches that spiritual growth is not an interest that should be rushed, but a sustained commitment, as the duration of these periods last for weeks, not days. This applies to everyday life in the sense that good service practiced only when convenient is breakable, real sacrifice is doing the right thing repeatedly, even when there is no applause.

In societies where there are religious, ethnic and economic divisions, these seasons remind us that moral values like selflessness, generosity, patience, and love are not owned by one faith but shared human morals. When Christians and Muslims equally emerge from Lent and Ramadan to being more compassionate, more just, and more attentive to the helpless, then the society in general is strengthened.

Beyond fasting, we should be willing to give up things so that others may live better. Sometimes, it may be food; it may be comfort or pride. And when these sacrifices form how we speak, work, forgive, and care, Lent and Ramadan fulfill their purpose not as ceremonies, but as training grounds for a kinder and faithful way of life, because the true success of both seasons is not by how hungry we were or how many days we fasted for, but by how kinder, fairer, and more selfless we become after the fast is broken.

The post Beyond Fasting: What Lent and Ramadan Teach Us About True Sacrifice in Everyday Life appeared first on Afinju FM.

The Presidency, in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed Egbetokun’s resignation,  citing family issues which require his undivided attention.

However, a source in the presidency disclosed that Egbetokun was asked to resign at a meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, adding that the IGP is to be replaced by Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Tunji Disu.

Egbetokun was appointed by President Tinubu as the 22nd IGP on 19 June 2023. His substantive appointment was confirmed by the Nigeria Police Council on 31 October that year.

Egbetokun, appointed at the age of 58, was due for retirement on September 4, 2024, upon reaching the mandatory age of 60. But his tenure was controversially extended by the President and was therefore expected to complete his four-year tenure and remain in office until 31 October 2027.

Despite complaints by many Nigerians, the presidency explained that Egbetokun remained in office legally, citing the amended Police Act 2024, which allows an appointed IGP to serve a fixed four-year term regardless of their age or years of service.

Egbetokun’s tenure as IGP was marked by several controversies, including human rights abuses.

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This gentle navigation reveals a generation that values connection to God, to community and to the joys of living fully.

Religion remains one of Nigeria’s foundation, with Christianity, Islam, and traditional beliefs influencing not just moral choices, but social habits, celebrations, and even career decisions. For many youths, attending worship services is non-negotiable, but outside these sacred spaces, the modern world, such as cafes, concerts, social media, and weekend gatherings create a different kind of calling. For young people, finding harmony between faith and fun is both an art and a necessity.

For most people, faith is important, but life is meant to be lived. Sometimes people think going out is sinful, while some see it as a chance to recharge and connect with others, trying to make sure it doesn’t clash with spiritual commitments.

Nigerian youth are reshaping what it means to be both devout and socially active, but the path is not without tension. Many young Nigerians face pressure from parents, peers, and religious communities to prioritize one over the other. Social media increases this pressure with images of perfect devotion or weekend excitement creating invisible expectations. Some struggle with guilt or fear judgment when they choose leisure over strict observance, even briefly. Balancing faith and fun requires constant negotiation, self-awareness, and, often, a thick skin.

Despite these challenges, many are finding creative solutions by attending faith-based events that incorporate social elements, such as youth fellowships, community service outings, and music nights at places of worship that allow young people to socialize while staying rooted in spiritual values.

Others adopt personal strategies by scheduling leisure around worship, using weekends for friends and relaxation, and consciously setting boundaries that prevent guilt.

Read Also: Life After School: Preparing Graduates for a World That Isn’t Waiting

Leisure is not the enemy of faith, but it is a part of living a balanced, complete life. After working all through the week, there is no harm in going out on a movie night, visiting high-end restaurants, going out to vibe or for games, and many more, while looking all glammed and dressed-up.

Balancing faith and leisure is not only possible, but beneficial because young people who manage to blend spiritual practice with social life often experience better mental health and stronger interpersonal relationships.

Navigating from worship halls to hangouts shows a generation learning to respect tradition while embracing modern life, a generation that refuses to let faith or fun define them in isolation. For many, this balance is a testament to adaptability, creativity, and the enduring human desire to connect, celebrate, and belong.

As Nigeria’s youth continue to navigate this journey, we must understand that spirituality and leisure need not be opposing forces, instead, they can coexist, with each enriching the other, shaping a life that is both meaningful and joyful.

Worship centres must also evolve, and live in the realities of a changing world where the population wants to live fuller lives to the highest extents of their desires. The worship centres who have identified this shift are now evolving into more youth-friendly denominations, taking up more progressive and innovative identities.

For young Nigerians today, the journey from worship halls to hangouts is not an alternative route from devotion, it is a path toward a fuller, richer expression of it.

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For years, education was painted as a sure pathway to a better life. Some parents invested their savings, some others took loans to see their children through school; students endured strikes and unstable academic calendars, and the world celebrated certificates as symbols of success. Indeed it worked, as many graduates excelled on pathways created by education.

Then, a new reality dawned on us. Opportunities dried up, and education alone could no longer guarantee a better life.

Now, after the convocation gowns are folded away, many graduates discover that the labour market is demanding and very indifferent to their years of study. The world they are entering is not waiting for them to figure things out.

For many Nigerians, the realities of the world after convocation parties do not immediately dawn on them as they are still being sustained by the allowance from the Federal Government, through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The reality became worse since the allowance increased from N33,000 to N77,000, with some Corp members getting more allowance from the State Government, depending on the state of placement. NYSC Allowance at par with the minimum wage further removed graduates from the realities awaiting them in the job market.

What then happens after the benefits from the NYSC stops? These young Nigerians realise that the outside world is not rosy, but with a standard of living already higher than what they can sustain after the service year. They start to get salary offers that are not up to what they were got under the NYSC Scheme without doing too much, forcing many to settle for jobs they never imagine they would do.

From Private School jobs to roles closely mimicking modern day slavery, graduates take them all, trying hard to keep body and soul together. At first, taking the decision to take such jobs appear like lack of ambition, but the problem is a bit deeper.

The problem is not only the absence of intelligence or ambition among Nigerian graduates, but also the widening gap between what schools teach and what the real-world demands. Employers increasingly seek practical skills, flexibility, digital competence and problem-solving ability. Unfortunately, many graduates leave school prepared mainly with theoretical knowledge, limited exposure to real work environments, and little guidance on navigating life beyond campus.

Read Also: Soft Life or Soft Lies? The Pressure to Appear Successful Online

Youth unemployment remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges, and it carries dangerous consequences. An idle and frustrated graduate population fuels social unrest, crime, mental health struggles and a growing sense of hopelessness, as years of education do not translate into opportunity.

Part of the responsibility lies with the education system, which has been slow to evolve. Curricula in many institutions still prioritise repetitive learning over innovation. Industrial training programmes are poorly supervised, underfunded or treated as mere procedures. Career counselling units are often ineffective or completely absent. As a result, students are rarely taught how to write a professional CV, market their skills, start a small business, or adapt to emerging industries.

Government policy also deserves to be looked into. Job creation has not been regular with the growing number of graduates produced each year. Support for entrepreneurship remains inconsistent, while access to startup funding, mentorship and enabling infrastructure is limited. When graduates are encouraged to be self-reliant without access to capital, stable power supply or favourable policies, self-reliance becomes an empty talk.

This is a call for reform and shared responsibility. Preparing graduates for life after school must begin long before graduation day. Educational institutions must take part in practical skills, internships, digital literacy and entrepreneurship into learning not as additions, but as an indispensable part of the system. Industry partnerships should be strengthened so that students gain real-world exposure while still in school.

Government, on its part, must prioritise youth employment as a national emergency. Policies should focus on motivating industries that can engage young talent, supporting small and medium-scale enterprises, and investing in vocational and technical education alongside traditional degrees. A nation cannot succeed when its educated youth are stuck at the doors of adulthood.

Graduates themselves must also adjust their expectations. The era of waiting passively for white-collar jobs has long ended. Flexibility, continuous learning and willingness to start small are now the essential tools for survival. Success after school may not follow a straight path, but resilience, getting the right practical knowledge and skill acquisition can open unexpected doors.

Life after school in Nigeria should not feel like punishment for determination. It should be a stage of growth, contribution and opportunity. But until the education system, government, society as well as the graduates themselves, confront the uncomfortable truth that the world is moving faster than our preparation, graduates will continue to be in situations they were never trained for.

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The event, attended by the students, parents, teachers, and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the constituency, marked the 10th anniversary of the programme held in Ejigbo, Osun State.

The sponsor of the initiative, Ayodele Asalu, noted that making education accessible for all, as well as his love for the masses birthed the purchase of the forms for the students, to lessen the financial burden on their parents and guardians, adding that 350 students got free JAMB forms, while 250 others got free WAEC registration forms.

Asalu hinted that students were drawn from 20 public secondary schools in Ejigbo, 450 students were sponsored for WAEC, while 550 others received UTME forms, with all WAEC beneficiaries automatically provided with JAMB registration in this edition.

The APC Chieftain also commended the vision of President Bola Tinubu for establishing the National Education Loan Funds (NELFUND), stating that the scheme has ensured indigent students have opportunity to complete their education.

Asalu urged the students and their parents to make the best use of the opportunity by giving their best effort in their examinations

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with our correspondent expressed their joy and appreciation to the organizer of the initiative for counting them worthy of this gesture.

They however pledged to reciprocate the kind gesture by coming out in flying colors in the forthcoming examination.

The event had in attendance education stakeholders, traditional rulers, as well as other well-meaning citizen from the state and beyond.

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Today, soft life is no longer just about choosing peace, it is about appearing peaceful. It is not enough to be okay, you must look okay and must look successful, calm, moisturised, and unbothered. And social media has become the stage where this performance plays out daily.

On Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok, life looks so soft. Videos and pictures of mornings and breakfasts in bed arriving on wooden trays, and captions speaking of God’s blessings. There are airport selfies with luxury backseats, and different trips not funded from personal pockets, carefully arranged pictures and performance that make even borrowed clothes and accessories look like old money.

Everyone seems to be winning effortlessly online, but offline, it is another story.

If you scroll for long, a quiet pressure creeps in. what comes to mind is: If your mates are living their best lives, what excuse do you have for struggling? If everyone else is booking flights, buying cars, starting businesses, and glowing up in “soft life”, why are you still trying to survive till month-end? The comparison is understated but endless, and it leaves many people feeling like failures in private while congratulating others in public.

Behind many soft-life posts are hard truths that never make it to the timeline. The vacations were funded by debt, the designer bags borrowed and the CEO title is for a business that has not made profit in months.

And the happy couple posting anniversary photos? Those ones are barely speaking, but they will never put out the details. The details are cropped out and hid under motivational captions.
Social media these days does not reward honesty; it rewards the vibe and look.

Read Also: When Parents Become Influencers: Children, Consent and Content in Nigeria

The pressure to look successful has become more intense in a country where economic realities are harsh and opportunities are not the same. When jobs are scarce and inflation is high, success becomes something to display instead of something to build slowly. Online validation takes the lead, likes become proof that you are doing well, even when your bank account tells a different story.

And, there are some sets of people, successful or not, who are not fans of showing off on Social-media. Once they show up with nice picture just to keep memories, billings rush in as direct messages, people expecting too much from them with the thought that they have made some money. That is how much people with fake soft life has influenced the public’s thoughts.

For some, this pressure turns dangerous. While for some self-acclaimed ‘soft-lifers’, they overspend to keep up appearances, saying yes to lifestyles their income cannot sustain. Others fall into quiet anxiety, feeling they are behind in life because their progress does not look attractive. There are those who abandon their dependable sources of living to chase trends that promise instant success, only to end up more lost than before.

However, the soft life was never meant to be a lie. Real softness is not always pretty. Sometimes it looks like staying home because you cannot afford to go out, and choosing not to feel ashamed about it. Sometimes it is logging off social media because comparison is taking away your peace. Sometimes it is admitting you are tired, confused, or still figuring things out. True softness is internal before it is external.

The most honest lives are the ones that are the least documented.

The question we should be asking is not who is living softly, but who is living truthfully. Are we building lives we actually enjoy, or just creating feeds that impress strangers?

There is nothing wrong with enjoying good things or sharing your wins, but when success becomes a show for the internet, it loses its meaning. A soft life built on lies eventually turns into pressure, debt, and burnout.

Maybe the real flex in this digital age is not looking successful, but being at peace with where you are whether or not it trends.

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The INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, released the timetable at a press briefing held in Abuja, announcing that the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on February 20, 2027, with governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls scheduled for March 6, 2027.

Amupitan emphasised that the timetable is anchored in the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2022, as amended, while also dismissing earlier claims that the electoral body had already issued the election schedule before the formal announcement.

Read Also: 2027 Elections: INEC Warns Politicians Against Early Campaigns

The announcement comes after INEC had earlier stated on February 4 that it had completed the election timetable and schedule of activities, despite delays in the passage of the amended Electoral Act currently before the National Assembly.

While INEC noted that it had submitted its proposed schedule to lawmakers, it acknowledged that some items in the schedule of activities could be affected depending on when the amended Electoral Act is eventually passed.

The post INEC Fixes Dates for 2027 General Election appeared first on Afinju FM.

But somewhere between the ring light and the repost button, there is a quiet question of “when parents become influencers, who speaks for the child?”

Across Nigeria, social media has evolved from a place of connection to a place of attention-seeking. Parents, especially the young, digitally knowledgeable ones have discovered that family life sells. Birthday parties, school runs, bedtime routines and even discipline moments have now become content. Children, often too young to understand the camera pointed at them, become central characters in their parents’ online brands.

For many Nigerian parents, documenting their children’s lives is not new. Photo albums, video tapes and framed portraits have always existed, only the rate and permanence have increasingly changed. Unlike the family album tucked away in a cupboard, today’s posts live forever, searchable and shareable by strangers.

A child’s embarrassing moment, which was once a private family joke, can now rack up thousands of views. A child’s tears can now become viral content, and while the internet moves on quickly, digital footprints do not.

Some parents argue that they are simply celebrating their children. Others admit, quietly, that the numbers matter, saying likes translate to influence while, influence helps build a strong brand; and, in an economy where every extra income counts, children sometimes become the most engaging asset on the page.

Read Also: From Aso-Ebi to Intimate Vows: The Changing Face of Nigerian Weddings

Consent is at the heart of the debate, yet it is also the most complicated part. Can a three-year-old agree to being posted online? Can a child truly understand what it means to have their image consumed by millions?

In Nigeria, the idea of children having autonomy over their image is not strong yet. Culturally, parents are seen as the ultimate decision-makers. “It’s my child” is usually the argument. But the digital age demands new thinking.

A child who grows up to find their childhood mischief, punishments or vulnerabilities archived online may not share their parents’ enthusiasm. What was once “cute content” may feel like too much exposure. What was once a joke may become a source of shame.

The tragedy is that this conversation often begins when it is already too late, when the content has spread, screenshots taken, and control lost.

There is also the part of security. “Self-acclaimed” influencer wives of well-to-do husbands expose their children to the public all in the name of showing-off wealth for influence and likes. Showing what the children are being fed at home and the lunches they take to school, the schools they attend and many more, exposing not just the kids, but vital details about their families to people with bad intentions.

Not all family content is harmful. Many Nigerian parents share responsibly, blurring faces, limiting details, and focusing on moments rather than identities. The concern arises when content exploits vulnerability.

Videos of children being scolded publicly. Clips of minors re-acting adult jokes they do not understand. Content built around a child’s disability, poverty, or emotional distress. Boundaries blur in the race for engagement. The internet rewards what is dramatic, emotional and shocking.

Unfortunately, children cannot opt out of this system. They cannot say, “Please don’t post that.” They cannot negotiate contracts or protect their future selves.

Nigeria’s legal structure around child rights exists, but enforcement in the digital space remains weak. The Child Rights Act prioritises the best interest of the child, but social media is a boundary it hardly touches.

Platforms have policies, but regulations have not fully captured subtle violations of child rights like this one. Therefore, the responsibility falls heavily on parents, whose influence should come with accountability, but the influencer economy rarely pauses to ask ethical questions.

This is not a call to shame parents or ban family content, but a call to pause and reflect if the content is for the child’s memory or for metrics, and if the content will not haunt the child in future. Parents need to ask themselves: “Would I be comfortable if this video resurfaced when my child is 18? Am I protecting my child, or performing for an audience?”

We need to let children be children. Children deserve privacy, even from love. They deserve to grow, make mistakes and find themselves without an audience watching their every move

As Nigerian parents continue to navigate the digital world, they need to raise children, not content. Document memories they would see and be happy and not their vulnerabilities. They need to build platforms for their children and not footsteps that may one day become burdens to them.

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As is the practice, you could always tell a Nigerian wedding is coming up weeks before the day. WhatsApp groups will spring up on you without notice, tailors would suddenly become impossible to reach while rolls of lace and Ankara would change in prices just because an “Aso-Ebi is out”.

For decades, Nigerians weddings have been communal affairs. Loud, colorful, emotional and unapologetically big. They are not just about two people choosing themselves, they are more about families introducing themselves, communities gathering and cultures proudly showcasing themselves. Weddings in Nigeria became hosting the world.

Overtime, weddings have become louder, bigger and more competitive. Guests dressed to outshine the couples being celebrated. Families deliberately trying to outshine one another.

Couples?  They smile through exhaustion while bills quietly await as they have had to spend beyond their means and affordability, because to many, weddings are not meant to be small.

Quietly, steadily, Nigerian weddings are shifting to become about the fanfare, and not the union. Traditionally, Nigerian weddings, especially in the South, are designed with one goal in mind: inclusion. The more people you invited, the more successful the celebration appeared. This simple foundation has snowballed into carnivals of great financial implications.

Event centers have become expensive. Chairs now spill onto the streets. Large pots of different foods – jollof rice, amala with abula, pounded yam with different native soups – simmer from dawn. Different plates of intercontinental dishes, as well as small-chops and appetizers are on the roll call at events.

The unannounced shift did not come with fanfare. There was no collective decision, it crept in through desire for social validation, all resulting to fatigue.

Intimate Vows, Deeper Moments

In the midst of these jamborees, some young intending couples have chosen to ask uncomfortable questions. Does a wedding really need thousands of guests? Does love require borrowed money?  Does marriage have to begin with debt?

Economic difficulties is playing its part in jerking some young persons back to reality. But beyond money, values are shifting, as many couples want meaning over show; they want presence and not performance.

And so, intimate weddings have begun to reappear quietly with small ceremonies, close friends, family only, and sometimes no Aso-Ebi at all. Recently, the practice for people who prefer comfort over pressure is: No live band, sometimes no spraying, just vows, food, laughter, and a sense of calm rarely associated with Nigerian weddings.

At these quieter weddings, something else happens. The couple is present.

They are not just rushing between tables or posing endlessly for cameras. They sit, they listen, they speak and breathe. Guests actually hear the vows and parents shed unguarded tears.

Read Also: Nigeria’s Loud Online Activism and Quiet Reality

These weddings may lack the noise of talking drums or the drama of coordinated outfits, but they offer something else, emotional clarity.

Holding Tradition Without Being Held Hostage

For many couples, this intimacy is not rebellion against culture, but a re-interpretation of it. After all, tradition was meant to serve people, not suffocate them.

Importantly, this shift does not mean Nigerian weddings are abandoning tradition, but it means that they are reshaping it.

Some couples still honour cultural rites but tune down the guest list. Others keep Aso-Ebi but simplify the reception. Many blend the old and the new, traditional engagement one day, quiet white wedding the next. Some blend all the ceremonies into one day, but brace themselves up for the stress that comes with it. The idea is balance.

A wedding can still reflect heritage without becoming a financial burden. It can celebrate community without losing intimacy. It can be joyful without being overwhelming.

In many ways, Nigerian weddings have become mirrors of the society itself, a place where tradition and modern reality negotiate daily.

The rise of intimate weddings shows that a new generation is choosing intention over impression. That love no longer needs noise to be valid. That marriage is being reclaimed from display and returned to commitment.

For each person, there is what works for them. Have a loud wedding if you can afford it, a minimalistic one if you cannot afford one. If you cannot afford a loud or minimalistic wedding, an intimate vow is a very good idea. What would be foolish is cutting one’s cloth according to someone else’s size rather than what one can fit in.

There will always be loud weddings in Nigeria. Celebration is in our DNA. But now, there is room for quiet joy too.

From Aso-Ebi to intimate vows, the Nigerian wedding is evolving, not losing its soul, but learning to breathe. And maybe in the end, that is the most beautiful transformation of all.

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Raising the alarm in a statement by its Communications Associate, Titilade Alayande, Urban Alert disclosed that illegal mining activities have expanded beyond remote riverbanks and are now encroaching directly into neighbourhoods within Osogbo and surrounding communities, posing threats to lives, property and the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove.

According to the group, affected areas include Aberensise Community in Akinlade Estate, Ilesa Garage area of Osogbo; Ifesowapo Community in Ajigun area along Owo–Eba Ilesa Road; and Olojaibala Community in Atakumosa West Local Government Area.

Urban Alert warned that large portions of these communities have reportedly been taken over by illegal miners, with operations threatening homes, farmlands and residents’ safety. The organisation noted that the activities have resulted in land degradation, destruction of farmlands, fear among residents, and contamination of water sources, especially given the proximity of the affected communities to the Osun River.

The group said the development represents a disturbing shift, as residents now view illegal mining not as a distant upstream problem but as an immediate neighbourhood emergency.

Read Also: Survival gets tougher in Osun, as electricity supply worsens

Urban Alert expressed concern that despite previous assurances by the Federal and Osun State governments on the safety of the Osun River, illegal miners have resurfaced and expanded their operations. It argued that periodic raids are ineffective without sustained surveillance, prosecution of offenders, dismantling of mining networks and removal of equipment and financiers enabling repeated re-entry.

The organisation revealed that it has received multiple distress calls and field reports indicating that residents feel powerless to confront the miners due to fear of intimidation and reprisals. In several accounts, residents alleged that miners often arrive in large numbers, accompanied by aggressive hoodlums, and operate with apparent disregard for local authority.

Urban Alert further expressed alarm over persistent claims by illegal operators that they enjoy backing from influential individuals, including alleged support from traditional institutions. It added that recent satellite imagery shows mining activities dangerously close to the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.

Describing the situation as an unacceptable escalation, the organisation warned that continued illegal mining around water bodies and residential zones poses serious threats to human safety, cultural heritage and traditional beliefs.

Urban Alert called on the Osun State Government, relevant federal agencies and security institutions to take urgent and decisive action, including sealing off illegal mining sites, removing equipment, arresting and prosecuting operators, and providing transparent public updates on prosecutions.

It also urged the government to conduct an independent environmental assessment of the Osun River corridor around Osogbo and ensure continuous monitoring, with publicly available findings and protection for whistleblowers and threatened residents.

The Urban Alert advised affected communities to document incidents safely, report intimidation through confidential channels, avoid confrontation with armed groups and strengthen community-based reporting mechanisms.

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