PRESS RELEASE!!! “Akoko-Edo Will Benefit From The Multi-Campus Policy.”

Akoko-Edo Will Benefit from the Multi-Campus Policy, Dr. Joan Oviawe

Leaders and Elders Slam Oshiomhole’s Senatorial Ambition, Call for Maintaining Rotational Agreement in Edo North

The community's head chief, the Iddu Oremeh Osese of Egbetua, Chief Peter Momoh, confirmed the presence of illegal gold miners in the area. He emphasized that the community has resolved to cease these activities and is seeking the state government's assistance.He stated, "The illegal mining activities in our community have not only led to environmental degradation but have also resulted in a rise in criminal activities, including frequent kidnapping of farmers, market women and children. This has created serious fears and a noticeable sense of insecurity among our people, making it difficult for them to carry out their daily activities, including farming, which is our primary source of livelihood. The presence of these illegal miners has not only disrupted the peaceful co-existence in our community but has also led to a total decline in economic activities. Our people are unable to access their farmlands due to the activities of these illegal miners. There is barely a week that passes without either an aborted kidnap attempt or successful kidnapping."However, the community's efforts to eradicate illegal mining activities are being undermined by Chief Yusuf Umaru Okara, also known as Caska, who has refused to cease the illegal operation.Reports indicate that approximately 1000 workers, bearing identity cards from Jonza Investment Limited, Egbetua Quarters, Ososo, Edo State, have been brought from the Northern part of the country to work at the site. These workers claim to be employed by Chief Yusuf Umaru Okara, who allegedly brought them from Sokoto and Zamfara states to Egbetua.The workers disclosed that a fellow worker named Rigidi, also from the North, acts as the intermediary between them and Caska. They are compensated based on the number of grams they can extract in a week, with each gram fetching between N16,000 and N18,000.Attempts by South-South PUNCH to reach Rigidi were unsuccessful, as he was reportedly unavailable when their correspondent visited the purported illegal mining site.One of the workers, Jafara Hassan, said, "We are working for Caska as gold miners here and he is living in Ososo. I am from Zamfara State. Stabitu Yakubu (pointing to his colleague) is also from Zamfara." When asked why they were not working on the day South-South PUNCH visited the site, Hassan explained that they were instructed by Caska not to work due to the anticipated arrival of vigilantes and soldiers in the bush, following the recent surge in kidnappings in the area.Another worker, Abdulazizu Sani, told South-South PUNCH, "We were told not to walk around in the bush, as vigilantes and soldiers are coming into the bush. We are here in search of gold for Caska and I am from Zamfara. I have been here for over three years."When reached for comments, Chief Okara denied any involvement in illegal gold mining activities in the area, stating, "I am not involved in any illegal mining activities."">

The Egbetua quarter, located in Ososo within the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, has raised an alarm over the ongoing illegal mining activities in the region. The community has urged the government to intervene and put an end to these activities, which they claim have escalated criminal activities in the area.

The gold mine, nestled within the Odo bush, has been operational for over a quarter of a century and is situated approximately 15 kilometers from the central town of Ososo.

The community’s head chief, the Iddu Oremeh Osese of Egbetua, Chief Peter Momoh, confirmed the presence of illegal gold miners in the area. He emphasized that the community has resolved to cease these activities and is seeking the state government’s assistance.

He stated, “The illegal mining activities in our community have not only led to environmental degradation but have also resulted in a rise in criminal activities, including frequent kidnapping of farmers, market women and children. This has created serious fears and a noticeable sense of insecurity among our people, making it difficult for them to carry out their daily activities, including farming, which is our primary source of livelihood. The presence of these illegal miners has not only disrupted the peaceful co-existence in our community but has also led to a total decline in economic activities. Our people are unable to access their farmlands due to the activities of these illegal miners. There is barely a week that passes without either an aborted kidnap attempt or successful kidnapping.”

However, the community’s efforts to eradicate illegal mining activities are being undermined by Chief Yusuf Umaru Okara, also known as Caska, who has refused to cease the illegal operation.

Reports indicate that approximately 1000 workers, bearing identity cards from Jonza Investment Limited, Egbetua Quarters, Ososo, Edo State, have been brought from the Northern part of the country to work at the site. These workers claim to be employed by Chief Yusuf Umaru Okara, who allegedly brought them from Sokoto and Zamfara states to Egbetua.

The workers disclosed that a fellow worker named Rigidi, also from the North, acts as the intermediary between them and Caska. They are compensated based on the number of grams they can extract in a week, with each gram fetching between N16,000 and N18,000.

Attempts by South-South Punch to reach Rigidi were unsuccessful, as he was reportedly unavailable when their correspondent visited the purported illegal mining site.

One of the workers, Jafara Hassan, said, “We are working for Caska as gold miners here and he is living in Ososo. I am from Zamfara State. Stabitu Yakubu (pointing to his colleague) is also from Zamfara.” When asked why they were not working on the day South-South Punch visited the site, Hassan explained that they were instructed by Caska not to work due to the anticipated arrival of vigilantes and soldiers in the bush, following the recent surge in kidnappings in the area.

Another worker, Abdulazizu Sani, told South-South Punch, “We were told not to walk around in the bush, as vigilantes and soldiers are coming into the bush. We are here in search of gold for Caska and I am from Zamfara. I have been here for over three years.”

When reached for comments, Chief Okara denied any involvement in illegal gold mining activities in the area, stating, “I am not involved in any illegal mining activities.”