The suspected artisan miners
About 17 artisan miners have been arrested in Cross River State for allegedly encroaching on protected areas of the Cross River National Park.
The park’s Special Anti-Poaching Squad made the arrest, and the suspects are from Ekuri Eyenyen and Etara communities in the Etung Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking to journalists in Calabar on Tuesday, the Conservator of Parks, CP Joseph Ntui, said the arrest followed actionable intelligence.
He said, “The park is a prohibited area. Activities such as mining, hunting, logging, farm encroachment, water poisoning and a host of other activities are prohibited within the National Park.”
Ntui said the activities of the miners had “far-reaching implications” for security, the economy, land degradation and public health.
“As I talk with you now, most of the streams and agricultural lands around Etara, Ekuri Eyenyen are polluted. The people don’t have good sources of drinking water,” he added.
The Conservator further alleged that mining licences were being issued for operations inside the national park by the Mining Cadastre Office in Abuja and the Federal Mines Office in Calabar.
“This is totally unacceptable because it not only contravenes the provisions of the National Park Service Act, it also violates Section 3, subsection 2 of the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and its Regulation of 2011,” he said.
While speaking on the suspects, Ntui said preliminary statements indicated that they were hired by Ekpo Mbang Eno, an alleged member of the Cross River State Anti-Illegal Mining Committee, adding that the suspects would be charged to court.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Effiom-Ekaha Otu, said the ministry was aware of B4LIVE, a company registered by Eno and licensed by the Federal Government.
He, however, said it was possible the licence overlapped into reserved areas.
“If that is the case, it would be hasty to tag the indigenous miner as ‘illegal’. The Cadastral Office in Abuja should be held accountable for such oversights,” he said.
“You may get a licence and the licence overlaps into the reserved area. It is now in the place of the miner to bring it to the attention of the Cadastral Office.”
Checks at the Federal Mines Office confirmed that B4Live Integrated Services was granted a small-scale mining lease for two cadastral units in Ekuri, Etung LGA.
On his part, the Cross River State Federal Mines Officer, Ayelabola Olubunmi, said such overlaps were not uncommon and that the National Park had reported similar cases in the past.
The accused, Ekpo Mbang Eno, said he was properly licensed but was not aware the area was a restricted zone until his arrest.
“They should properly demarcate these places. I always make sure to follow the law, obtain necessary documents and gain the consent of the communities where I operate,” he said.
Eno also denied hiring the 17 arrested miners, saying he employed 40 miners and 10 supervisors. He added that rangers met 67 people at the site, and community leaders confirmed approval for only 50.
Stakeholders have urged the Mining Cadastre Office in Abuja and the Federal Mines Office in Calabar to conduct proper due diligence before issuing licences in reserved areas.
A stakeholder who spoke on account of anonymity said, “We keep having these issues, creating problems for legitimate business owners. Even when you complain, they will tell you they have a target to meet.”
Another investor who spoke to newsmen noted that poor mapping by the Cadastral Office was a major challenge.
“A Cadastral unit is equivalent to the size of 20 football pitches. So while you may know where your lease starts, you may not know where it ends; whether it encroaches into another community, state, or into a protected area,” he said.
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