The Edo State Government has issued a 7-day ultimatum to illegal gold miners in Egbetua Autonomous Community in Ososo, Akoko-Edo Local Area of the state, to vacate the sites or face the wrath of the law.
The Commissioner for Mining and Energy, Enaholo Ojiefoh, gave the ultimatum on behalf the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, when he led a team of security personnel to meet with Chiefs and Elders of the community on Saturday.
He stated that the state government is interested in the growth and development of the locality and has zero tolerance for crime and illegalities 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.
“If you have been working, cooperating with them as a community, youth, man or woman, or you are the one who help 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)”.
“It is a matching order from the state government to flush them (illegal gold miners) out of this palace and that is why you are seeing different security agencies.
“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”, the Commissioner said.
He announced that the report of the visit will be forwarded to the Minister of Solid Mineral Development and the governor, assuring that the state government would be working with all legal mining companies in Edo and bring in investors for the development and growth of the area.
“Anybody that is mining here, that even have documents but did not collect consent from the community, their licenses will be revoked.
“We are going to review all the mining licenses, before we open up gold mining here. We are going to review all the mining licenses and they are going to sign undertaking and agreement for peace to reign in our land”, Ojeifo disclosed.
Meanwhile, the Head-Chief of Egbetua Community, Chief Peter Momoh, has expressed appreciation for the intervention of the state government, saying that it will help in no small measures to addressing the menace of illegal gold miners in the community.
He promised to commissioned the community town crier to take the warnings of the State Government to residents of the community until the expiration of the seven days order.
Recall that Egbetua Community recently called on the Edo State Government to help halt the activities of illegal gold miners, which it said has led to criminal activities in the area.
It was learnt that the gold mining site located inside the Odo bush, about 15 kilometres from Ososo main town, has been in operation for over 25 years.
SUN NEWS
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