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The Berom Youth Moulder-Association (BYM) and the holder of Mining Lease No. ML-129 in Latya Du District, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, have traded accusations over the ownership and operation of the mining site.
While the youth group called on the Federal Government to revoke the lease, alleging irregularities in its acquisition and harassment of members of the host community, the lease holder, Joshua Egbagbe, dismissed the allegations as a fight-back by illegal miners.
BYM, in a statement signed by its President, Dalyop Mwantiri, and Secretary-General, Emmanuel Mangu, alleged that the lease was obtained without due regard for the rights and interests of the original landowners.
The group argued that although mining leases are issued by the Federal Government, such approvals do not extinguish the interests of host communities.
It also accused Egbagbe and his company, MTS, of using security agencies to intimidate residents and showing disregard for the community’s traditional institutions.
“The questionable Mining Lease No. ML-129 issued to Mr Joshua Egbagbe, whom we believe failed to follow and observe due process in the pursuit of the said mining lease, has also been accompanied by arbitrary arrests and detention of some community members, abuse of due and court processes, disregard for the host community and its revered traditional institution, as well as the unwarranted use of force through the instrumentality of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,” BYM said.
The group claimed that the mining lease was originally held by a Russian firm, which entered into an agreement with the community for four years, adding that the agreement expired in 2001.
It said that following the exit of the Russian company, the community sought the revocation of the lease, which it alleged was subsequently taken over by Egbagbe.
But Egbagbe, Managing Director of MTS, rejected the allegations, describing them as “illegal miners fighting back.”
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He said MTS had held the mining lease since 1997 and possessed the necessary statutory documentation, including evidence of payments and compliance with the Mining Cadastre Office.
“The lease was originally held by Russian partners who ceased operations because of local crises and fluctuations in the international market. As a consultant to the firm, I eventually took over the company and became a director and shareholder,” he said.
Egbagbe accused a particular family in the area of being behind the dispute, alleging that its members had engaged in illegal mining, attacked his workers, destroyed property and caused environmental damage.
“This is a case of corruption fighting back. The current public accusations against me are a fight-back by illegal miners who have already been indicted by police and environmental reports. These individuals are attempting to deflect attention from their own legal troubles,” he said.
According to him, he had pursued legal remedies by reporting the matter to the police and instituting court actions against those he accused of illegal mining.
He also alleged that the affected persons failed to attend scheduled meetings with the Ministry of Justice and were now attempting to use public pressure to circumvent the legal process.
Asked about the relationship between Mining Leases 126 and 129, Egbagbe said both were connected to the original Russian partnership, adding that the current dispute appeared aimed at merging competing interests around the two sites.
He maintained that his company was the victim of a smear campaign by persons facing possible prosecution for illegal mining activities.
Egbagbe said his company had been prevented from accessing the site for about three years but vowed to pursue all lawful and constitutional means to reclaim it.
