NGO alerts of illegal mining in Imo community, accuses traditional ruler of involvement

 

The Rule of Law and Accountability, Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has appealed to the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, to swiftly intervene in a case of illegal sand mining in Amumaraokahia village in Adakam Amumara autonomous community of Ezinihitte Mbaise local government area of Imo State.

RULAAC, in the letter signed by its executive director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, highlighted the destruction being done to the environment by the illegal sand miners who have been dredging the community rivers non-stop with over 20 dredging equipment.

In the letter, which was also copied to the Imo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Security Services and the NSCDC, rogue official in the ministry of Solid Minerals and the traditional ruler of Adakam were fingered among the officials aiding the illegal miners.

The letter reads: “Rule of law and accountability advocacy center (RULAAC) has been approached by the leadership of Amumaraokahia village in Adakam Amumara autonomous community in Ezinihitte Mbaise L.G.A Imo State regarding the devastating impacts of illegal and unregulated sand mining which has been going on in the two rivers in the village and the growing tensions from the resistance by the youth against powerful interests who insist on the continuation of dredging activities in disregard for the envorinmematl and health hazards and outcry by the villagers over the effects.

“We are informed that:

“1. For about five years, high-level illegal and unregulated sand mining has been going on in two rivers in Amumaraokahia village by some foreign invaders who do not have the consent of or agreement with the village leadership

“2. That at the moment, there are close to 20 dredging machines operating in the two small rivers and that the movement of many heavy duty trucks that ply their roads on a daily basis carrying and supplying sand permanently generate dusts that pollute the atmosphere and damage the roads without compensation or efforts to minimize the damaging effects.

“3. That besides the illegality of the operations, non compliance with the Mining Act and the unregulated nature of the operations, the villagers are also concerned that there are more dredging machines in the rivers than the rivers can carry.

“4. That overall, they are seriously concerned that inappropriate levels of dredging relative to the river size can have profound and lasting effects on the river ecosystem and the surrounding environment.

“5. That they are calling for an assessment by the Ministry to determine the extent to which the overuse of dredging machines in the rivers has led to significant environmental impacts: habitat destruction, erosion, water quality degradation, altered river flow, loss of biodiversity, disruption of sediment transport, impact on fish populations, and cumulative effects leading to broader ecological consequences.

“6. That besides the issues of illegality, the activities of illegal operators are leading to the escalation of tensions threatening the breakdown of law and order.

“7. That many of those who have invaded the village rivers carrying out these illegal activities are strangers who were aided by the traditional ruler of Adakam Eze O B Nwokocha in utter contempt and disregard of the consent, agreement and interest of the host community.

“8. That repeated efforts by the village leadership to invite the self imposed investors to a meeting to present their certificates, the reports of their environmental impact assessment and if is is considered safe, to enter a Community Development Agreement with them, have been repeatedly and contemptuously ignored by the investors who insist that they owe loyalty and accountability only to the traditional ruler, Eze Nwokocha on whose authority they entered and commenced operations in the river.

“9. That some of the invaders masquerading as ‘investors’ make the dubious claims of having obtained licenses from the ‘Ministry of Mines’ and that many others who have no licenses are operating under their cover. It is indeed free for all and an all comers business with people simply carrying their dredging machines from anywhere and freely entering the river at will without any reference to the village leadership.

“10. That they are also concerned to have realized that a certain individual who claims to be ‘an official of the Ministry of Mines’ and based in Owerri Imo State has been in cahoots with them and threatened the village when they complained and moved to check the reckless activities going on in their rivers.

“11. That tension is simmering arising from the resistance by the youth of the village and the shenanigans by the traditional ruler and others with vested interest who want dredging to continue at all costs for their selfish benefits.

“12. That they humbly and urgently call on the Honorable Minister to direct a team to ascertain the legality of the mining operations going on in Amumaraokahia, the validity of the licenses claimed by some of the operators, the level of damage and environmental impact of the activities and the roles of the traditional ruler of Adakam and those who claim to be officials of the ministry in Imo State including aiding what they believe are illegal, unregulated and environmentally destructive mining activities going on in their rivers.

“RULAAC hereby requests the Honorable Minister to consider issuing an order for the immediate cessation of any form of mining in the rivers not only to preserve whatever may be left of the river ecosystem and the integrity of the surrounding environment but also to de- escalate tensions and avert the breakdown of law and order.

“While awaiting your prompt response and trusting that you will treat this urgent appeal with speed and fairness, please accept the assurances of our highest consideration.”