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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
Tension has risen in Ohankwu community, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
A dispute over mining activities in the area following accusations and counter-accusations between the member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, a mining company, and the state government.
Ogah, on Sunday accused the company, First Patriots of forceful displacement of residents and intimidation of locals with the aid of security operatives.
He also accused the company of not paying compensation to the locals who own the land.
According to the lawmaker, armed soldiers, police officers and civil defence personnel allegedly invaded the community and forced residents out of their homes.
“The next day, I received a call saying some of the people from the village moved to my house for shelter after they were chased out of their homes,” Ogah alleged.
He claimed nearly 50 displaced residents sought refuge in his home and threatened to petition the Federal Government for the withdrawal of the company’s mining lease.
However, the Director of First Patriot Limited, Obi Alio, denied the allegations.
He insisted that the company operates within the law and has fulfilled all obligations to host communities through Community Development Agreements (CDAs).
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“There is nothing in that CDA that has not been done. We provide boreholes, roads, scholarships and other amenities,” Alio said.
He also denied claims of forceful eviction, maintaining that there were no houses in the land where the company is working in the community.
He also added that all residents who own land in the area where the company is working were adequately compensated.
Reacting to the controversy, Ebonyi State Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Chidi Onyia, said security agencies were deployed to the area following petitions alleging illegal mining, cultism, gun running and threats to peace in the community.
The commissioner explained that the state government facilitated agreements between the company and host communities, including compensation packages and development projects.
According to him, compensation payments in Ohankwu alone exceeded N400 million, while the company also committed to projects such as boreholes, scholarships and health centres.
Onyia blamed the crisis largely on leadership disputes and lack of transparency in the handling of compensation funds within the community.
“The leadership of Ohankwu has failed. They failed the government and they failed the people,” he said.
He also denied claims that the company used security agencies to harass residents, alleging instead that some youths invaded the mining site, carted away materials and damaged equipment.
The commissioner warned against illegal mining and violence, stressing that the state government would not allow a repeat of the security challenges associated with mining activities in other parts of the country.
