An illegal gold site has been uncovered in Egbetua autonomous community in Ososo, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.
Investigation revealed that the gold mining site, located inside the Odo bush about 15 kilometres from the main town of Ososo, has been in operation secretly and quietly for over 25 years.
Ososo Clan is made up of four autonomous communities including Egbetua, an agrarian settlement blessed by nature with mineral deposits, especially gold and limestones which have strategic importance and economic value to the people.
Our correspondent who visited the mining site observed no fewer than 1,000 mining workers with identity cards bearing “Jonza Investment Limited, Egbetua Quarters, Ososo, Edo State”, said to have been brought from the northern part of the country.
Some of the illegal gold miners who spoke with our correspondent claimed that they were working for one Chief Yusuf Umaru Okara, also known as “Caska”, whom they said brought them to Egbetua from Sokoto, Zamfara and other states.
They revealed that one Rigidi, a Northerner and a worker too, is the middleman between them and Caska, adding that they get paid according to the number of grams they are able to get in a week as each gram attracts between N16,000 and N18,000.
“We are working for Caska as gold miners here (Egbetua) and he is living in Ososo. I am from Zamfara State. Stabitu Yakubun (pointing to his colleague) is from Zamfara State also,” said one of the miners, Jafara Hassan.
Asked why they did not work on that day, which was a Sunday, Hassan said they were told by Caska not to work as vigilantes and soldiers were coming into the bush following the spate of kidnappings in the area.
“We were told not to walk around in the bush as vigilantes and soldiers were coming into the bush. We are here in search for gold for Caska and I am from Zamfara. I have been here over the years,” said another miner, Abdulazizu Sani.
The responses of Sani Sotu, Tsahtu Jamilu, Abdullahi Usaini Yahaha and Mallam Basiru were not different from those of their colleagues as they revealed that they were working in groups.
Speaking with our correspondent, the Head-Chief of the Community, Chief Peter Momoh, the Iddu Oremeh Osese of Egbetua, confirmed the activities of illegal gold miners in the community.
He said the community has decided to put a stop to the illegal gold mining activities, stressing the need for the state government’s intervention.
“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 frequent kidnapping of farmers, market women and children,” Chief Momoh said.
“This has created serious fears 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 coexistence in 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 either an aborted kidnapping attempt or successful kidnapping activity,” he said.
Findings further revealed that following the resolve of the community leadership, the operators of the illegal gold mining sites were asked by the community to leave their land.
According to one of the Chiefs in the community, while others decided to evacuate from the Egbetua land, one Chief Yusuf Umaru Okara (Caska) refused to quit the operation.
It was scooped that Egbetua Council of Chiefs and Elders had, in separate letters dated April 17, 2024, with the subjects “Call for urgent intervention to clear illegal mining in Egbetua-Ososo”, and “Urgent appeal for assistance in the Egbetua community in Ososo”, called on the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and Chairman, Akoko-Edo Local Government Council, respectively, to intervene in the matter.
When contacted, Chief Caska, who did not want his voice to be recorded by our correspondent, denied any involvement in illegal gold mining activities in the area.
