Saki West LG Brokers Peace Meeting Between Disputing Mining Firms in Oyo

A peace and conflict resolution meeting aimed at fostering harmony between two mining companies operating in Gbepaka Village, Saki West Local Government Area of Oyo State, was held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at the Saki West Local Government Secretariat.

The meeting was convened following prolonged disputes between KM Done Mining Limited and West African New Energy Material Company Limited over the cadastral units allocated to both companies for mining activities within the Ilua-Gbepaka axis.

Speaking during the meeting, the Chairman of Saki West Local Government, Hon. Akinola Olaleye Oluwagbenga, who presided over the peace accord session, clarified that the purpose of the gathering was not to apportion blame or deliver judgment against any party, but rather to sustain peace and prevent the disagreement from escalating into a security threat capable of disrupting public order in the area.

Hon. Akinola emphasized that cordial relationships between government authorities and mining operators remain essential to attracting investments and advancing Nigeria’s solid minerals sector. He noted that the mining industry plays a strategic role in the nation’s economic diversification agenda and urged both parties to embrace dialogue and peaceful coexistence.

He further disclosed that KM Done Mining Limited had presented relevant operational documents confirming its legitimacy as a licensed mining company authorized to operate within its allocated mining site. He subsequently urged representatives of West African New Energy Material Company Limited to also present documents supporting their claims.

However, the representative of West African New Energy Material Company Limited, Prince Adetunji Gbadegesin, informed the meeting that he did not come with the necessary documents and facts, adding that he could not make substantial comments on the matter. He assured stakeholders that other members of his team would join the meeting later, but they reportedly failed to appear before the session ended.

The delegation of KM Done Mining Limited, led by the company’s legal counsel, Hon. Azeez Adesope, alongside the Chief Security Officer, retired Deputy Commandant, DC Olusola Akuko, maintained that the company followed due process in obtaining approvals and had complied with all regulations guiding mining operations in Nigeria.

According to Hon. Adesope, the company possesses a valid five-year Small Scale Mining Lease (SSML) No. 44659, covering seven cadastral units in Ilua-Gbepaka Community, effective from September 20, 2024, and scheduled to expire on September 19, 2029.

He further stated that KM Done Mining Limited is duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and had entered into a Community Development Agreement (CDA) with the host community, through which it has contributed to developmental projects within the area.

Adesope added that all relevant operational documents and approvals had been duly certified by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development. He noted that when the matter was previously reported to the Ministry, KM Done Mining Limited was vindicated and the dispute resolved in its favour.

He also acknowledged that West African New Energy Material Company Limited possesses its own Small Scale Mining Lease (SSML) No. 55128, covering a separate and distinct eight cadastral units within the Ilua-Gbepaka Community.

Speaking further, the company’s CSO, DCC Olusola Aluko (Rtd), alleged that although KM Done Mining Limited had commenced operations on its approved site, West African New Energy Material Company Limited was yet to begin work on its own allocated units. Instead, he accused the company of encroaching on KM Done’s operational area, illegally disrupting activities, and allegedly orchestrating unlawful arrests of the company’s workers and managers.

Aluko further alleged that lithium ore excavated by KM Done Mining Limited had been stolen by individuals linked to the rival company, adding that some trucks allegedly used in transporting the minerals were intercepted by security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), in Oyo, Ogun, and Kwara States.

Community leaders and stakeholders present at the meeting, including the Baale of Ilua Village, Chief Kilani Ajani Azeez, stressed the need for both companies to maintain peace in the interest of community stability and development.

Also speaking, the Coordinating Secretary of the Village, Alhaji Yusuf Oladehinde, who presented the Community Development Agreement documents before the meeting, testified that KM Done Mining Limited had been fulfilling its obligations under the CDA, while alleging that West African New Energy Material Company Limited had yet to do the same.

Representatives of security agencies present at the meeting, including the Divisional Police Officer of Saki, CSP Kehinde Odubanjo; DSS officer in charge of Saki, Bode; and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) representative, George Afolabi, urged both parties to maintain peace and lawful conduct in order to safeguard development and security within the area.

The meeting eventually ended with both companies agreeing in principle to sign a formal peace accord at the next meeting scheduled for June 16, 2026.