Egbetua, a community in the northern part of Edo State, used to be a pristine land where residents made a living from farming. However, since illegal mining activities started, the community is crying out as their livelihood is being taken away, leaving them instead with cases of kidnapping and general insecurity to worry about, writes IDAHOSA MOSES.
Edo State is blessed with natural resources such as glass-sand, gold, gypsum, iron ore, lignite, limestone, marble, oil and gas among others. However, resources that should be of benefit to the generality of the people are being exploited illegally by a few persons.
Among the three senatorial districts in Edo State (Edo North, Edo South and Edo Central), Edo North is blessed with limestone, arable land, alluvial gold, coal, uranium, and others. One of the communities blessed with these natural resources is Egbetua autonomous community in Ososo, Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.
Illegal gold mining activities have over time caused destruction and devastation for communities in Nigeria, and Egbetua is not exempted.
Apart from the physical damage which the activities of illegal gold mining are currently causing in Egbetua community, concerned residents of the mineral-rich community are lamenting other devastating effects the illegal activities are having on them.
Investigations reveal that illegal gold mining activities, which has been going on in Egbetua for over 25 years, is a growing socio-economic challenge in the community and its environs. These activities, the people claimed, have led to the loss of ecosystems and increased poverty level especially among peasant farmers who depend solely on environmental resources for a living.
Interestingly, illegal mining of gold in Egbetua is usually carried out mostly by locals with the help of miners imported from Zamfara, Sokoto, Niger and other northern states of Nigeria.
Recall that the near absence of laws regulating the mining sector was one of the factors that led to the lead poisoning outbreak in 2010 that affected some communities in Anka and Bukkuyum local government areas of Zamfara State and the death of many children in those communities.
For the inhabitants of Egbetua, life seems to be meaningless following what they described as the devastating effect of an illegal gold mining site in their locality.
Activities of the miners who are believed to be undertaking illegal mining have forced inhabitants of Egbetua to cry out for help from Edo State government.
An allegedly illegal gold mining site, it was gathered, has been in operation for over 25 years. It is covered by the thick forest of Odo, about 17 kilometres from the main town.
When Nigerian Tribune visited Odo recently, where the gold mining site is located, it was discovered that hundreds of mining workers said to have been imported from the northern part of the country (Zamfara and Sokoto States) were found at the gold mining site.
Numerous large and deep holes dotted the area, making it practically impossible for farmers to cultivate agricultural produce on the large expanse of land. There was also the presence of a Fulani camp (settlement) located deep inside the deep as well as other huts discovered to be inhibited by the miners. The people were also seen with identity cards, bearing the inscription of a particular company.
Who is responsible for the operation of the site is a question that would arise in the mind of a visitor. This opened the floodgate of responses from the workers and inhabitants of the community.
Nigerian Tribune spoke with a cross-section of the miners at the site. They claimed that they were working for one Chief Caska, who they said brought them from Sokoto and Zamfara amongst other states in Nigeria.
These workers revealed that one Rigidi, though a worker too, was the middleman between them and Caska. They added that they were being paid weekly (every Friday) according to the number of grammes of gold they were able to get.
According to one of the workers, one Hassan: “We are working for Caska as gold miners here (Egbetua) and he is living in Ososo. I am from Zamfara State. Yakubu (pointing to his colleague) is from Zamfara State also.”
“We are working in groups and each group is paid according to the numbers of grammes they are able to gather in a week.
“We have many groups here and those people standing (pointing to another group of four persons on the site) are also working here as miners.”
Asked why they did not work on the day Nigerian Tribune visited (a Sunday), Hassan said they were told by Caska not to work, as vigilantes and soldiers were coming following the worrisome rate of kidnappings in the area. “We were told not to work today or walk around as vigilantes and soldiers were coming into the bush.”
Findings further revealed that following the resolve of the community leadership, the operators of the illegal gold mining sites were asked through a letter by the community to vacate the site. A copy of the letter was made available to Nigerian Tribune.
The letter titled, “Notice to quit mining of gold in our land”, was signed by Head Chief of the community, Chief Peter Momoh and the Secretary of Egbetua Council of Chiefs and Elders, dated March 7, 2024 and addressed to one Yaro in Ososo in Okpilla.
It read: “Rising from the meeting of all sons and daughters of Egbetua held on the 7th of March, 2024, it was resolved that you quit the illegal mining of gold in Egbetua in line with the directives of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“We, therefore direct you to vacate the mining activities with immediate effect.
“It should be noted that you have workers that are Niger and Hausa miners that are of no address on our land.
“With the recent development of kidnapping that has engulfed our Egbetua community, we cannot afford to keep our eyes away from people unknown to our community.”
“Please, comply with this directive immediately. Looking forward to your quick cooperation in this,” the letter concluded.
According to one of the chiefs in the community, while others decided to vacate from the bush, Caska’s workers allegedly refused to quit the operation.
When Nigerian Tribune visited the residence of one of the leading chiefs in Egbetua Community, Chief Oloke Orifa Ashewele, he did not only confirm the operations of illegal gold miners in Egbetua, but claimed that illegal gold mining activities were also being carried out in the neighbouring communities.
He said that more than one set of workers were into illegal mining in Egbetua before, but some have vacated the Odo bush site.
When contacted, Caska denied any involvement on illegal gold mining activities in the area.
One Mallam Shaibu Aliu, corroborated the position of Caska. He, however, alleged that one Momoh was also involved in illegal gold mining, but added that the said Momoh recently evacuated his workers and materials from the bush.
According to a resident in Ososo who pleaded anonymity, illegal miners were the real enemies of the community and the people, noting that the miners were carting away what rightly belongs to the people and convert same to their personal use.
“They come in different ways and with different names. But their goal is the same: to illegally mine gold and become richer and better than any other person,” he said.
Investigation also revealed that illegal gold mining activities have heightened banditry, kidnapping and violence in the community. This is because mining in the area is carried out illegally and on an artisanal basis by the locals.
It is said that the mining of large untapped mineral deposits in the area, especially gold and limestone which have strategic importance and economic value, is at the root of an impending communal crisis in Egbetua.
Findings indicated that the activities of illegal miners and the influx of Fulanis and foreigners are what the residents claim to be responsible for the rising cases of kidnapping and banditry in the community.
They claimed that operators of this alleged illegal mining sites have brought into their community people whose origin and identity cannot be traced.
A resident who spoke with Nigerian Tribune on the condition of anonymity, lamented the current insecurity situation in Egbetua, saying, “Strangers have invaded our villages; they are all into mining. They are in our bush and in the surrounding neighbourhood. We feel unsafe with their daily influx.
“If you go to the bushes of these communities (Ojah and Egbetua) you will discover the manner in which parts of the community lands are dug by those prospecting solid minerals. You will weep for them.
“In some cases, farmlands are destroyed by these people all in a bid to prospect for solid minerals. It is painful because these things can actually be done properly and the communities will not feel the negative impact.”
Asked if the community receives any compensation from the government, the source said: “The community does not get the incentives they are supposed to enjoy from the Federal Government because the miners are illegal operators.”
He lamented the tragedy that is associated with illegal mining and asked that something fundamental be done to discourage it, particularly by the Edo State government.
For the people of the community who bear the brunt of these mining explorations, their experiences have been tales of land degradation and environmental woes; and there seems to be no end in sight.
According to the head chief of Egbetua community, Chief Momoh: “The illegal mining activities in our community has not only led to environmental degradation, it has also resulted in a rise in criminal activities, including frequent kidnapping of farmers, market women and children.
“This has created serious fear and noticeable sense of insecurity among our people, making it difficult for them to carry out their routine activities, including farming, which is our primary source of livelihood.
“Undoubtedly, the presence of these illegal miners has not only disrupted the peaceful existence of our community, but has also led to total decline in economic activities!
“Our people are unable to access their farmlands due to the activities of these illegal miners. There’s barely a week that passes without hearing either an aborted kidnapping attempt or a successful kidnapping activity.”
It was gathered that Egbetua Council of Chiefs and Elders had earlier called on the intervention of the Edo State government and the chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area in separate letters dated April 17, 2024, with the subject: “Call for urgent intervention to clear illegal mining in Egbetua-Ososo”, and “Urgent appeal for assistance in the Egbetua community in Ososo.”
The letter to the governor reads: “We, the undersigned (Elder Olowo Bello, Elder Adeniyi Odafe, Elder Jacob Osheku, Elder John Momoh, Chief Peter Momoh), members of the Egbetua-Council of Chiefs and Elders, write to bring to your attention the urgent need for your intervention in addressing the illegal mining activities that are causing significant harm to our Community, Egbetua-Ososo.
“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 kidnapping. This has created a sense of fear and insecurity among our people, making it difficult for them to carry out their daily activities, including farming, which is our primary source of livelihood.
“The presence of illegal miners has not only disrupted the peaceful coexistence of our community but has also led to a decline in economic activities, as our people are unable to access their farmlands due to the activities of these illegal miners.
“We, therefore, implore Your Excellency to come to our aid and take urgent steps to rid our community of these illegal miners. We believe that your intervention will not only restore peace and security but will also enable our people to resume their farming activities and regain their means of livelihood.
“We trust in your commitment to the well-being of all Edo State citizens and are confident that your swift action will bring relief to the people of Egbetua-Ososo. We eagerly await your prompt response and action on this matter.”
The ongoing mining operation in the community has taken up several acres of once-fertile farmland as hundreds of mining workers toil continuously to unearth the minerals beneath the earth’s surface. The result is that large pits now occupy the once-pristine land in Egbetua.
Of note, under the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2007, it is expected that after excavation, a miner is supposed to refill that land up to 80 percent. But that is not the case in Odo bush in Egbetua community.
Read Also: Bayelsa govt plans to re-engage Julius Berger, earmarks roads for construction
Source: