Authorities from the Federal Government and Ebonyi State have sealed an illegal mining site in Ameka community, Ezza South Local Government Area, following months of surveillance aimed at halting unauthorized extraction and recovering lost revenue.

The operation, led by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, resulted in the confiscation of all equipment and sparked protests from residents over lack of transparency in land agreements.

Chief Mine Officer Afolabi Taofeeq described the site as a clear case of economic sabotage, operating without valid licenses within a designated mining zone. “We ensure zero tolerance for illegalities – you can hold a licence and still operate wrongly, but here, everything was unauthorised,” he said, citing disruptions to formal mining and environmental risks.

Local leader Emmanuel Nkoro criticized the manner in which the site was taken over, accusing unnamed individuals of striking secret deals without community consent. “We’re not against the company, but they can’t seize our land by force. We demand transparency in the Community Development Agreement,” he said, referencing protests that followed the intrusion.

Ebonyi State Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Chidi Onya, pledged to uphold inclusive processes, likening a CDA to “a pregnancy that must be properly conceived” with input from state, federal, corporate, and community stakeholders. He promised tighter oversight to prevent future violations.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, along with other agencies, secured the site during the operation. All equipment was forfeited to the federal government. While no arrests were made, officials indicated that investigations are ongoing.

This enforcement action is part of Nigeria’s broader effort to combat illegal mining, which drains billions in revenue and contributes to regional instability.