Gold Mining: Victims Narrate Ordeal From Illegal Miners In Edo

Peter Adelabu and Kokumo Godwin have narrated how they escaped being killed by illegal gold miners at the mining site at Oketegbe in Dangbala, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.

The victims who are still nursing injury sustained from the attack, told newsmen in Benin on Sunday that the denial by some persons that nothing was happening at the site was false.

Adelabu said he was attacked along with others when leaders of the community asked them to find out if there was any mining activity taking place at the site.

Narrating his ordeal, Adelabu said, ” On the 13th of December my kindred asked us to go to Oketegbe to find out if there is any mining activity taking place there.

“On getting there, we saw many people mining gold where the state government had shutdown.

“The moment they sighted us, they attacked us with dangerous weapon. We just managed to escape. Most of the illegal miners are armed with guns and cutlasses.

“Another victim, Kukumo Godwin, “The illegal miners are back to where governor Obaseki had shut down. Most of them are Hausa’s, we were shocked to see them mining.

“They were carrying guns before we knew what was happening they started attacking us.We were so lucky to have escaped.

“As I speak to you now my life is no longer safe. We have reported the matter to Ososo Police station while the injured is receiving treatment at Dangbala hospital.”

He lamented that four of the illegal miners arrested and taken to Police Area Command at Igarra were released in suspicious circumstances instead of being charged to court.

However, the spokesman of Police Command in Edo, SP Bello Kontongs said he read about the incidences surrounding illegal mining in the media and he awaits formal report from the area Command at Igarra.

It would be recalled that the community (Dangbala) had raised the alarm of the return of illegal miners to the area and alleged that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) of providing security cover for illegal gold miners.

Spokesman of the community, Mr Collins Nicholas, had made the allegation on Thursday.

The NSCDC had denied the allgation and noted that the mining site was still not opened for any activities since its closure by the state government.

Spokesman of the command, Mr Efosa Ugbebor, reacted to the allegation, and stated that the place was still been guided by its officers since its closure by the state government earlier in the year.

The Zonal Mining Officer (ZMO), Mr Abdulkadiri Adamu had also denied knowledge of the return of illegal miners to the area since it was shutdown by the Edo Government.

According to him, “Edo State government placed embargo on the activities of miners in the area and am not aware that they (miners) are back there.” End