By Peter Iorter and Tamenor Kwaghzer
Ugbidye Richard is one of the victims who has lost their land completely to miners in Tse-Ageraga village of Logo LGA in Benue State. He had tried every possible means to recover the land, but all had proved abortive, as he and his family now seek shelter somewhere else.
Richard explained that the mining company, Emile Enterprises Limited, which illegally took over his land by using a local contact, confiscated many other lands through dubious transactions.
According to him, one Mr. Obi of Emile Enterprise Limited offered N3.5 million to rob his family in the land purchase deal.
“The rogue arrangement has denied families their rights in the land.” Many families have been rendered homeless as a result of the agreement, and they are currently seeking temporary shelter.”
However, SMI and WR efforts to reach out to Emile Enterprises Limited to verify this allegation failed, as a public search did not show that the company was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and has no known address. Beyond the alleged dubious land acquisition by the miners, the community members of the LGA also accused the miners of unprofessional conduct by using explosive devices and other crude methods to operate without care for the safety of the residents.
According to the residents, the practice has damaged houses and destroyed other properties in the community.
SMI and WR could confirm that the mining sites are a few minutes’ walk from the houses in the community.
Background
The Logo Local Government Area of Benue State is known to be rich in solid mineral resources. According to reports, minerals such as lead, fluoride, zinc, and other varieties are commercially available, particularly in the Gaambe-Tiev axis for large-scale exploitation.
Investigation shows that mining activities commenced in Mbagber, Tombo, and Ukemberagya/Tswarev Council Wards of the area council in 2008, when aliens of Chinese descent visited the town to explore the prospects for mining the resources.
Other miners in the state were said to have joined the prospectors’ league. Among them were a famous businesswoman identified simply as “Hajiya” and a man called Salmanu.
Further investigation suggests that Hajiya may have been fronting the mining business for a former federal minister of solid minerals in Nigeria.
However, since mining started about a decade ago, there have been several negative impacts on the community. Residents who spoke with our reporter disclosed that the crude methods of leaving uncovered mining ponds make farming activities impossible and also lead to water scarcity.
Our reporters also gathered that several other deep ponds have lowered the water table level and dried up fresh surface water from the points.
Similarly, the remaining shallow water points that have not dried are contaminated and become unsafe for both human and animal consumption leaving a dire consequence for the safety of residents!
Plethora of Findings
The PRO of the Forum of former councilors, Aondona Yaku, alleged that the miners resorted to bribing some villagers to exploit hidden solid wealth in the area. He said that some of the local chiefs were also given a stipend to secure their consent at the expense of the entire town.
“The Tse-Ageraga village in Mbaniange, Mbagber Council Ward, for instance, got the stipends and gave unlimited access to lands measuring many square kilometers.” “As the deals turned into sales agreements, the recipients of the stipends became automatic refugees in their birthplace, increasing the poverty for villagers.”
“The forum regretted that efforts to draw the attention of the relevant governments, especially the Logo Local Council, for action against unprofessionalism, including reports of default in tax payment, have failed.”
Yaku stressed that the miners also threatened and victimized the community by forcing law enforcement officers to leave their houses so as to domicile in the area.
SMI and WR also gathered that the mining activities were suspended in September last year when three people were reportedly killed when the mine collapsed.
But the Chairman of the Miners’ Association in the area, John Ikyanyon, said the situation occurred as a result of excessive rainfall, which caused one of the pits to collapse.
On August 19, 2022, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, suspended all forms of mining activities in the state over illegal gold mining activities going on in parts of Kwande LGA and other LGAs in the state.
Ortom noted that there was a need for the government’s intervention in order to restore sanity in the sector as well as check for security breaches in the area.
“We have seen what is going on in Kwande LGA, where people are mining gold, which portends dangers for not only the area but the entire state.
Already, our findings indicate that a lot of illegal miners, including foreigners, have invaded Kwande to prospect for gold in the area, and we cannot watch helplessly while this is going on. Therefore, as a government, we have decided to suspend all forms of mining in Kwande starting from today, Thursday.”
Meanwhile, this reporter has learned that illegal and unprofessional mining activities are taking place not only in Kwande LGA, but also in Logo LGA.
How mining affects the community
Deep pond, created by mining activities in the community
Speaking on environmental hazards caused by mining in the village, the traditional head of Mbanianga, Zaki Nyamve Ageraga said the business is causing land degradation and affecting houses in the country.
According to him, the mining activity is affecting Agricultural growth in the country while also posing many residents to hunger.
SMI and WR also observed that the activity has dragged many people to leave the community for other unfamiliar places. Sources on ground disclosed that many residents have lost houses, properties and farm products due to the explosive and other activities by the Miners.
Similarly, the Kindred Head of Mbagber, Zaki Aluga, also expressed displeasure over the environmental degradation, stating that the community has been greatly affected.
Failed promises
According to a report, the sector in charge of regulating mining activities across the country has seen an increase in the budget from 2015 to 2018. However, despite this development, there have been cases of illegal and unprofessional mining activity across the country.
It was gathered that in 2015, the ministry approved budget was N10.43 billion in 2015. In 2016, N16.73 billion was approved while N22.84 billion was approved by the FG in 2017. In 2018, the ministry got N22.94 billion. However, in 2019 budget the project was pegged by 10%
In 2018, the presidency disclosed that N644 million has been earmarked to strengthen the mining regulatory agency.
SMI and WR also gathered that the federal government in December 2017 had proposed to launch the National Gold Purchase Scheme. According to FG the move to increase revenue from gold, so as to provide extension services, support and off-take gold mined by ASGM.
Despite all these developments, members of Logo LGA say they haven’t seen any Government impact in the community.
Mining Association’ Reactions
He explained that mining is on the exclusive legislative list, and the ministry ensures that miners obtain an operational license to function professionally in the sector.
Kyanyon stated that he has obtained the permit and that the ministry supervises operations to ensure balance and equality.
Reacting to some of the allegations, the chairman of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Benue State Chapter, John Tersugh Kyanyon, said mining activities within the jurisdiction comply with the laws regulating operations in the sector.
On complaints that mining operations have rendered the environment unsuitable for farming, among other activities, Kyanyon said that since the law requires miners and landowners to involve lawyers in making agreements meant to avoid breaches of rights, the federal ministry that witnessed the agreements required by law has the responsibility to compel defaulting parties to respect the deals.
The chairman urged complainants to approach the ministry for action and stop blaming miners for offenses they had not committed.
He also disclosed that the association has sunk boreholes in the Anyiin, Gaambe-Tiev, and Zanzan (Ugondo areas of the Logo Local Council as part of its corporate social responsibility to mitigate hardship caused by water scarcity.
The mining officer of the Ministry in Benue State declined to comment, noting that the Minister has not authorized him to clarify the issue.
State Goverment Reacts
The Special Adviser to the Governor of Benue State on Solid Minerals, Engineer Andrew Aondowase Kputu, blamed the landowners for facilitating abuse of the environment.
He said the law requires parties to enter into agreements that specifically allow landowners to reclaim their destroyed lands for farming and other activities.
Kputu, however, noted that many of the landowners do not involve experts in the writing of the agreements that will protect their interests.
He acknowledged the presence of many unauthorized miners, adding that the situation has the potential to increase damage to the environment apart from threatening security due to the large population of the miners.
This investigation is produced by Safer-Media Initiative with the support of of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) under The Collaborative Media Engagement for Development, inclusivity and Accountability Project (C-Media Project) funded by the MacArthur Foundation.”
