Edo govt urges illegal miners to vacate mining site

PLACE YOUR ADVERT HERE

Illegal miners operating in the Egbetua Autonomous Community in Ososo, Akoko-Edo Local Area of the state, have been given a seven-day ultimatum by the Edo State government to leave the area.

After seven days, the authorities threatened to bring the full force of the law down on any illegal miners discovered in the region.

To the dismay of the residents, it was reported on Friday that over 1,000 laborers, primarily from the country’s north, were working on the site.

The mining facility, it was learned, was situated inside the Odo wilderness some 15 kilometers from Ososo town, and had been in operation for more than 25 years.

Chief Peter Momoh, the Iddu Oremeh Osese of Egbetua, the community’s chief, confirmed the illicit gold miners’ operations in the community and stated the state government’s intervention was necessary.

He said, “The illegal mining activities in our community have not only led to environmental degradation but have also resulted in a rise in criminal activities, including frequent kidnapping of farmers, market women and children.”

The community handed the illegal miners a notice to stop in a letter dated March 7, 2024, which was signed by the head chief and his secretary. In a separate letter dated April 17, 2024, the community begged Governor Godwin Obaseki to stop their operations.

On behalf of Governor Obaseki, the state commissioner for mining and energy, Enaholo Ojiefoh, eventually delivered the ultimatum to the miners on Saturday after leading a group of security guards to meet with the community’s chiefs and elders.

He stated that the state government has a zero-tolerance policy for crime and unlawful activity in the state and expressed interest in the locality’s growth and development.

“I want to give a serious warning to residents of Egbetua. If you are part of these criminals who have been working in our forest, mining our precious minerals, your days are numbered.

“If you have been working or helping in any way to carry out their illegal activities, your days are numbered. I want you (elders of Egbetua community) to send this message to everybody, tell them that we are giving them (gold miners) seven days to vacate that forest.

“It is a marching order from the state government to flush them (illegal gold miners) out of this place and that is why you are seeing different security agencies.

“They can’t be exploiting our solid mineral and still be kidnapping, raping our wives and girls, chasing our men away and using the forest as a place where they keep their victims,” he said.

The state governor and the minister of solid mineral development would receive a copy of the visit report, the commissioner revealed.

He did, however, guarantee that the state government would collaborate with all legitimate mining firms operating in the region and would attract investors to foster the region’s expansion.

Speaking about the development, Momoh thanked the state administration for their intervention.

 

 

PLACE YOUR ADVERT HERE
Alex Obichie
Alex Obichie
Alex Obichie is an Ardent Sustainability Enthusiast, advocate for the Waste-2-Wealth Initiative, and Ingenious Politician, he uses articles to promote and sensitize the public about matters surrounding the environment, political systems and ways to benefit & support sustsinable global development.

Popular Related

Gunmen kill 54-year-old businesswoman in Ondo

The Ondo State Police Command, said investigation has begun about a 54-year-old businesswoman, Debbi Olakunbi Adene, who was found dead in her residence located...

‘Whatever he says i should do is what i will do’ – Omobayo Godwins

Omobayo Godwins, the newly appointed deputy governor of Edo State, has vowed not to share authority with Godwin Obaseki, the state governor. He declared that...

Residents of Anambra State frowned at prolonged public holidays

Anambra residents has expressed dissatisfaction at the additional day authorized by the federal government for the Muslim celebration, stating that this will bring negative...

Sanwo-Olu to announce monthly sanitation, says commissioner

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State Governor, is expected to declare the commencement of monthly environmental sanitation programme in the state. Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for...

INEC releases Edo, Ondo final voter registers

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final register of voters for the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states. Sam Olumekun, national...

Plateau gov lifts curfew on Jos

Caleb Mutfwang, the Plateau State Governor has declared the lifting of the curfew earlier imposed on Jos, the state capital. The governor disclosed this on...

Peter Obi lament over deplorable power situations in Nigeria 

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the general election, peter Obi, has deplored over the continuous power situation in the country. Peter...

Retired Delta fire service officer allegedly rapes 12-yr-old girl 

A retired fire service officer in Delta State, Okonjie Awulo, has allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of...

Outrage as Pope Francis approves blessing for same-sex couples 

Pope Francis approval for priests to bestow blessings upon same-sex couples, a landmark decision for the LGBTQ+ community within the Roman Catholic Church has...

Collapsed grid successfully restored- TCN

The national electricity grid has been fully restored, following it's collapse in the early hours, of Monday, as revealed by The Transmission Company of...