Economic Sabotage: Enugu Illegal Miners Enmeshed In Police Net
Enugu state Government has again sealed the Ezimo-Agu illegal coal mining site in Udenu Local Government Area of the state. The Government in collaboration with police operatives of the Obollo-Afor Divisional Police Headquarters, also arrested six men and confiscated seven trucks for allegedly, violating ban on illegal mining in the state.
The arrest followed the latest order by the state government that illegal mining operators be arrested ,their operational vehicles confiscated if found at the sealed sites.
Special Adviser to the State Governor on Energy and Solid minerals, Dr Kingsley Nnaji, who visited the site , alongside state Government team, Udenu Local Government Chairman,
the Divisional Police Officer of Obollo- Afor Police Divisional headquarters, CSP Ignatius Attah, and police operatives, said the State Government had two months ago, banned illegal mining activities in the state and subsequently, sealed the illegal sites, urging the operators to meet with the state government with relevant documents required for mining.
He added that some illegal operators flouted the directive and continued mining activities.
Nnaji disclosed that, following a tip off, the state government got to know that illegal activities were still going on at some of the sealed sites and had come for monitoring and to take inventory of the confiscated vehicles in Police custody.
The Special Adviser added that “the state government is not against genuine investors in the State but frowns at the illegal ones, who have caused havoc to the state, got the environent degraded and polluted streams from which the people fetch their drinking water”.
He insisted that they must face the music for violating the order of the government.
“They violated the Court order against illegal mining in Enugu state issued two months ago. The State Government gave another order to confiscate the vehicles( trucks, caterpillars), equipments found at the illegal sites and be taken to a Police station and they will liaise with the police and the State Government, do the necessary things before the property will be released”, he stressed.
He said the order included buyers of coal mines at illegal sites.
“If nobody was buying coal , nobody will mine. We are clamping down on illegal miners. We are open to legitimate business. There is a procedure .The buyers should go to the local government chairman, Divisional Police Officer of the area and the State Government, present their documents and seek permission from the authorities before going to the site(s). We will follow due process “, Nnaji said.
He warned people in vehicle/ equipment lease businesses not to lease their vehicles and equipment to illegal miners, saying that if they are caught, they will be confiscated.
The Divisional Police Officer of the Obollo- Afor Police Divisional Headquarters, CSP Ignatius Attah,in his remarks, said they were working with Udenu Local Government Chairman and would continue to support the state Government in its efforts to rid the State of illegal miners.
Six men including two workers, two armed security operatives , one mechanic, and one alle
ged illegal Coal mining site owner were arrested and taken to Enugu state Police Headquarters, where they met with the Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, made statements and subsequently were detained.
The vehicles confiscated were four trailers , one pay loader Caterpillar,(in Police custody) one low bed and one big conveying truck.
PUBLISHER – SAM UDEKWE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, while he is presently on his M.Sc programme also in Mass Communication, at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is currently the NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
