The Amolokpa Development Association (ADA) in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has appealed to the Federal Government to urgently intervene in what it described as alleged illegal mining activities, environmental pollution, destruction of farmlands and escalating threats to the lives and property of members of the community.
The community, located in Amolokpa Amaonye/Ekubara in Ishiagu, made the appeal when its Chairman, Mr. Ajah Friday, appeared before journalists in Abuja alongside the former Chairman of the association, Mr. Ajah Fardinand Madubuke, and other executives of the association.
The community leaders alleged that mining activities involving lead and zinc had resulted in the destruction of economic trees, cassava and rice farms, pollution of water sources and other environmental consequences affecting residents.
Both Mr. Ajah Friday and Mr. Ajah Fardinand Madubuke displayed visible signs of burns and other injuries which they attributed to what they described as symptoms associated with pollution from the mining activities.
However, the community’s claims about the cause of the injuries and the alleged pollution have not been independently established by a medical or environmental assessment.
The association also alleged that community members who resisted the mining activities had faced intimidation, violence and detention, while some community leaders who objected to the activities were allegedly arrested.
According to documents presented by the association, it had earlier petitioned the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), calling for an investigation into what it described as illegal mining, alleged assault, destruction of public and private property and breaches of public peace.
The petition, dated July 25, 2026, was addressed to the NSCDC Commandant-General, with attention to the Commandant of the Mining Marshals. The document was stamped as received by the NSCDC on July 27, 2026.
The association alleged that Greenfield Metals Limited, which it linked to Chief Henry Ahanotu, had obtained mining interests over areas the community claimed belonged to local landowners.
It further alleged that the company had entered parts of Ekubara land without the consent of the landowners and destroyed economic trees, cassava and rice farms allegedly worth more than ₦3 billion.
The association also claimed that it had written several letters to the Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals Development and the Mining Cadastre authorities over the dispute.
One of the documents supplied by the community is a Mining Cadastre search report for Mineral Title No. 28953 SSML, showing Greenfield Metals Ltd as the applicant/beneficiary and lead and zinc as the minerals. The document also records a “conflict with community.”
The Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office is the federal agency responsible for the administration and management of mineral titles in Nigeria.
The community’s petition further alleged that on September 27, 2025, hoodlums allegedly disrupted a community meeting concerning consent for mining activities, assaulted residents and destroyed properties.
The petition listed alleged losses including motorcycle parts valued at about ₦670,000, windows and doors allegedly worth ₦5 million, as well as other property.
The association claimed that subsequent attacks and intimidation forced several adult males to leave the community, leaving the village largely deserted.
Community Seeks Federal Intervention:
The Amolokpa Development Association is therefore asking the Federal Government, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office, security agencies and other relevant authorities to urgently investigate the dispute and prevent further escalation.
Among its demands are an immediate halt to mining operations on the disputed land pending resolution of the ownership and licensing issues, an investigation into the alleged attacks and destruction of property, and compensation for the losses allegedly suffered by members of the community.
The association is also demanding an apology and has put its claimed compensation at ₦3 billion.
The community leaders, however, expressed appreciation to the Commandant-General of the NSCDC and the Mining Marshals for what they described as their support and attention to the concerns raised by the community.
The current NSCDC Commandant-General is Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, whose tenure was renewed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in February 2026. The NSCDC Mining Marshals are currently commanded by Assistant Commandant of Corps John Onoja Attah, who has recently been publicly recognised for efforts against illegal mining.
The community’s appeal comes amid increased federal enforcement against illegal mining and growing emphasis by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development on relations between mining companies and host communities. The ministry has warned that mining companies that breach Community Development Agreement obligations could risk sanctions, including the loss of their mineral titles.
The Amolokpa leaders said they were not opposed to legitimate mining activities but wanted mining operations in their community to comply with the law, respect the rights of landowners and protect the lives, health, farms and economic interests of residents.
They called on the Federal Government to intervene before the dispute degenerates further and to ensure that all parties operate within the law.
The allegations contained in the community’s petition remain allegations and would require investigation and responses from Greenfield Metals Limited and the relevant authorities before they can be treated as established facts.
