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Sand miners in Onitsha, Anambra State, have protested alleged extortion by the Anambra State government, insisting they are only answerable to the federal government through the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA.
About 200 members of the Onitsha Sand Miners Association held a march within the premises of NIWA, near the River Niger, holding placards with various inscriptions. They insisted they have met the obligations of the federal government, which they consider their landlord.
The miners, who are mostly tipper drivers, said that despite obtaining relevant documents from NIWA, a federal government agency in charge of mining within the River Niger, a state government agency, Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra, also known as OCHA Brigade, has been harassing and extorting them.
President of the Onitsha Sand Miners Association, Mr. Christopher Mbaegbu, who addressed journalists immediately after the protest, said the state government agency has become a thorn in their side.
“We are here today to complain about the incessant harassment we get from members of OCHA Brigade, who come to the mining site at will, disrupt our operations, and also arrest and impound our tippers.
“We came here so that the Area Manager of NIWA, Victor Nwokeocha, will hear our cry. We have relevant documents from NIWA that support and empower our operations, but we have been constantly harassed and arrested by this state government agency, OCHA Brigade.
“Every day we are being hounded. A week ago, they came and took about 20 tippers, pay loaders, trucks, and other equipment. They arrested our workers and kept them for two days.
“So we decided to hold this protest to ask NIWA if the documents they gave us are fake, so that we will know whether to withdraw from applying to NIWA and follow OCHA Brigade.
“We met all the requirements before NIWA and the federal government gave us the right of way to mine here, but every day we are in trouble with OCHA Brigade. We are not happy about this. Our members who were arrested were bailed with over N1 million, and our equipment is still there.”
The placards wielded by the protesters asked whether they were answerable to the federal government or the state. They also alleged that they are extorted over N7,000 per trip by OCHA Brigade operatives without receipts, while appealing to the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, to caution the Managing Director/CEO of the Anambra State Solid Minerals Development Company Limited, ASSMDCL, Prof Charles Ofoegbu, whom they accused of colluding to extort them.
The Managing Director of OCHA Brigade, Mr. Celestine Anere, in his reaction to most of the allegations, said the matter was between the miners and ASSMDCL, which insisted the miners must be registered.
He said: “We have asked them to get registered, and the issue is between them and Prof. Ofoegbu. They have held meetings with him, and all that is needed is for them to register with the state government.”
Sand miners challenge Anambra govt over extortion, insist they’re answerable to FG only
