OSOSO (AKOKO-EDO) – The Edo State Government has given illegal gold miners in Egbetua Autonomous Community in Ososo a seven-day ultimatum to vacate the mining site or face the full wrath of the law.
This follows the recent uncovering of illegal gold mining activities in the community located in Akoko-Edo Local Area of the state.
The Edo State Commissioner for Mining and Energy, Enaholo Ojiefoh, gave the warning on behalf of the the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, when he led a team of security personnel to meet with chiefs and elders of Egbetua Community on Saturday.
He said that the state government was interested in the growth and development of the locality and would not tolerate any form of crime and illegality in the state.
“I want to give serious warning to everybody here (residents of Egbetua) that if you are part of these criminals that have been working in our forest mining our precious mineral, your days are numbered,” Ojiefoh said.
“If you have been working, cooperating with them as a community, youth, man or woman, or you are the one who helps them to buy fuel that they use in the forest, or you are the one giving them access to the forest, 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 (Odo bush,” he said.
Ojiefoh said it was a marching order from the state government to flush out the illegal gold miners from the land.
“They can’t be exploiting our solid mineral and still be kidnapping, raping, our wives, girls, chasing our men away and using that place (forest) as a trap where they keep kidnappers,” he said.
The Commissioner disclosed that the report of the visit would be forwarded to the Minister of Solid Mineral Development as well as to the Governor.
He assured that the state government would be working with all legal mining companies in Edo to bring in investors for the development and growth of the area.
“Anybody that is mining here, that even has documents but did not collect consent from the community, their licences will be revoked.
“We are going to review all the mining licences before we open up gold mining here. We are going to review all the mining licences and they are going to sign undertaking and agreement for peace to reign in our land,” he said.
The Head Chief of Egbetua Community, Chief Peter Momoh, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone,
expressed appreciation to the state government for its quick response and its commitment to tackling the menace of illegal gold mining in the community.
He promised to commission the community town crier to take the warnings of the Edo State Government to residents of Egbetua until the expiration of the seven-day order.
It would be recalled that Egbetua Community recently cried out to the Edo State Government over the activities of illegal gold miners which, it said, led to criminal activities in the area.
The gold mining site, located inside the Odo bush about 15 kilometres from the main town of Ososo, it was gathered, has been in operation for over 25 years.
