Sand miners in Anambra protest alleged extortion by govt revenue agents

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By Madu Obi

Sand miners in Onitsha, Anambra State, have protested alleged extortion by Anambra State government revenue agents, insisting that they are only answerable to the federal government through the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

No fewer than 200 members of Onitsha Sand Miners Association, who marched within the premises of NIWA, on the banks of River Niger, displayed placards with various inscriptions, stressing that they have fulfilled the obligations of the federal government, which they believe to be their landlord.

The miners, majority of whom are tipper drivers, said that despite obtaining relevant documents from NIWA, which is a federal government agency in charge of mining within River Niger, a state government agency, Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra, OCHA Brigade, has been harassing and extorting them.

President of Onitsha Sand Miners Association, Mr Christopher Mbaegbu who, addressed journalists after the protest, said the state government agency has become a thorn in their flesh.

"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 and disrupt our operations, and also arrest and impound our tippers.

We decided to protest so that the Area Manager of NIWA, Mr Victor Nwokeocha will hear our cry. We have relevant documents from NIWA which support and empower our operations, but we have been constantly harassed and arrested by this state government agency, OCHA Brigade.

Everyday, we are being hounded. Last week, 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 if we will withdraw from applying to NIWA and follow OCHA Brigade.

We met all the requirements before NIWA and federal government gave us right of way to mine here, but everyday we are in trouble with OCHA Brigade. We are not happy over this. Our members who were arrested were bailed with over N1million and our equipment are still there."

The Managing Director of OCHA Brigade, Mr Celestine Anere, in his reaction, said the matter was between the miners and the Anambra State Solid Minerals Development Company Limited (ASSMDCL), which insisted the miners must be registered.

We have asked them to get registered, and the issue is between them and Prof Ofoegbu. They have held meeting with him and all that is needed is for them to register with the state government", Anere said.