Amolokpa Community Raises Alarm Over Alleged Lead Mining Pollution, Farm Destruction

By Harriet Tornguvan 

The Amolokpa Development Association (ADA) in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in an alleged mining dispute involving environmental pollution, destruction of farmlands and attacks on members of the community.

The community, located in Amolokpa Amaonye/Ekubara in Ishiagu, made the appeal in Abuja when its Chairman, Mr Ajah Friday, appeared before journalists alongside the association's former chairman, Mr Ajah Fardinand Madubuke, and other executives.

The community leaders alleged that mining activities involving lead and zinc had caused widespread environmental damage, including the destruction of economic trees, cassava and rice farms, as well as pollution of water sources relied upon by residents.

Friday and Madubuke also displayed burns and other injuries which they attributed to exposure to pollution allegedly associated with the mining operations.

However, the claims linking the injuries directly to mining-related pollution have not been independently established through medical or environmental assessments.

The association further alleged that residents who opposed the mining activities had been subjected to intimidation, violence and detention, while some community leaders were allegedly arrested for resisting the operations.

According to documents presented by the association, ADA had petitioned the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), requesting an investigation into alleged illegal mining, assault, destruction of public and private property and breaches of public peace.

The petition, dated July 25, 2026, was addressed to the NSCDC Commandant-General, with attention to the Commandant of the Mining Marshals. It was stamped as received by the NSCDC on July 27, 2026.

The community alleged that Greenfield Metals Limited, which it linked to Chief Henry Ahanotu, had obtained mining interests over areas claimed by local landowners.

It further alleged that the company entered parts of Ekubara land without the consent of the landowners and destroyed economic trees and cassava and rice farms, with the association putting the alleged value of the losses at more than N3 billion.

Documents supplied by the community included a Mining Cadastre search report for Mineral Title No. 28953 SSML, which identifies Greenfield Metals Ltd as the applicant/beneficiary and lists lead and zinc among the minerals. The document also contains a notation indicating a “conflict with community.”

The association said it had written several letters to the Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals Development and the Mining Cadastre authorities over the dispute.

In its petition, the community also alleged that hoodlums disrupted a meeting on September 27, 2025, over community consent for mining activities, assaulted residents and destroyed property.

The alleged losses listed in the petition included motorcycle parts valued at about N670,000 and windows and doors estimated at N5 million, among other property.

ADA further claimed that subsequent incidents of alleged attacks and intimidation forced several adult males to flee the community, leaving the village largely deserted.

The association is asking the Federal Government, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office, security agencies and other relevant authorities to investigate the dispute and prevent further escalation.

Among its demands are an immediate suspension of mining activities on the disputed land pending the resolution of ownership and licensing issues, investigation of the alleged attacks and destruction of property, and compensation for losses allegedly suffered by community members.

The association is also demanding an apology and has put its claimed compensation at N3 billion.

The community leaders expressed appreciation to the NSCDC Commandant-General and the Mining Marshals for what they described as their support and attention to the issues raised.

The community said it was not opposed to legitimate mining activities but insisted that mining operations should comply with Nigerian laws, respect the rights of landowners and protect the lives, health, farms and economic interests of host communities.

They urged the Federal Government to intervene before the dispute escalates further and ensure that all parties operate within the law.

The allegations contained in the community's petition have not been independently verified. Greenfield Metals Limited and the relevant government authorities would need to respond to the claims before they can be treated as established facts.