Ohankwu, Amana Mining Crises: Ebonyi State Governmet Takes Over The Site, Bans Mining Activities

By Our Reporter

Following the crises that engulfed Ohankwu and Amana villages which was triggered by ownership tussle of mining site and a quest for restoration of peace in the affected area,
Ebonyi State Governmet on Thursday stopped all mining activities at the disputed Ohankwu and Amana villages of Ikwo and Ezza South Local Governmet Areas of the state.

This was contained in a 13 Point cominique reached after a peace meeting with the leaders and youths from the two affected villages held at the Executive Council chamber, Governmet House, Abakaliki and was presided over by Governor David Umahi.

Below is the details of the cominique reached:

1. That all mining sites in Ohankwu and Amana communities are stopped with immediate effect.

2. That all licence for mining in the affected communities is hereby revoked; the right and license of the miners are revoked immediately as the licence holders are fingered to be part of the instigators of the crisis.

3. By the law of the state, the two mining sites in Ohankwu and Amana, between the stream are hereby revoked and taken over by Ebonyi State Government in accordance with our peace law.

4. Government directs that no one is allowed to enter the said land, either for Agriculture, Mining or for any other purpose.

5. That 150 youths drawn from Ikwo LGA, Ezza South LGA and Abakaliki LGA are hereby deployed under a joint security taskforce of the police - The Army, SSS, Civil Defence and any other security force as may want to incorporate in the joint security taskforce.

6. The Governor directs the security agencies to shoot at sight and possibly shoot to kill anyone who tries to kill any Ebonyian within and outside this location.

7. The Chairman of CAN, Ebonyi State is to head the peace committee which has been inaugurated today for the peace settlement. The committee will include the both Council Chairmen of Ezza South and Ikwo LGA’s, the Youth Leaders of Ohankwu and Amana and the committee has 30 days to give the state government the true ownership of the land before government took over the ownership.

8. The peace committee shall interview the leaders of Ikwo LGA, Leaders of Ezza South LGA and specifically, leaders of Amana and Ohankwu elders.

9. The both communities shall submit documents that can justify their claims before the acquisition was done by government.

10. Government warns that all miners who caused this trouble must be arrested within seven days and arraigned in court by the Attorney General of the State in accordance with the laws of the state for bleach of public peace.

11. Government warns that she will not fold her hands and see any Ebonyians killed in any part of the state or even outside the state.

12. Ebonyi State Government thanked the security agencies for their massive deployment to the troubled location and would wish to assure the good people of Ohankwu and Amana to go about their normal businesses in a very peaceful and enterprising form as their lives and properties are fully secured by the Government under the leadership of Engr. Dr. David Nweze Umahi FNSE, FNATE.

13. Government shall through the Fr. Nwali’s Committee, engage in future, the leaders of the communities for the both LGA’s.

Signed:

Kenneth Igwe Ugbala Ph.D
Secretary to the State Government/Coordinating Commissioner.