By Kenneth Onuoha
365Daily – The mining community of Aguachi, Ukwuagba Ngbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, on Saturday, June 26, 2021, staged a peaceful protest against the refusal of Master Rock Quarry to pay them compensation for their properties damaged as a result of the activities of the quarry miners in the community.
The residents, who came out in their numbers, blocked the entrance leading to the quarry site, chanting slogans and asking the government to close the site if they failed to comply with the directives initially given to them by the State Ministry of Solid Minerals.
The people whose houses were destroyed as a result of the activities of the quarry miners, said that they would no longer tolerate the antics and wicked dispositions of Master Rock Company towards them, stressing that its negligence and indifferent nature has become too much for them to bear.
Mr. Daniel Eze, whose house was on the verge of collapse, explained that he had reported to the site manager on several occasions and requested for compensation but the manager kept telling him that he could only compensate him on the ground of relocation or until the total collapse of the building.
Another victim whose house has collapsed due to the vibration from the blasting of stones in the mining site, Mr. Sampson Ishiali and his wife, Mrs. Mary Ishiali, while narrating their ordeal, said that they have been rendered homeless as they currently sleep under a mango tree.
They called on the government and other good spirited individuals to come to their aid.
Counsel to Mr. Ishiali, Barr. Christopher Adagba Ajah, said the problem started in 2019 when he wrote a letter to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Master Rock Ltd, through the Site Manager, requesting for the replacement of his client’s 7 rooms and a parlour bungalow which was about to collapse as a result of the effect of blasting of rocks by the quarry miners, in line with the agreement between the company and Aguachi Development Union Ngbo.
The Counsel noted that the site manager insisted that unless the house was valued by experts, he could not oblige their request.
He said the matter was subsequently taken to the State Ministry of Solid Minerals where the building was valued at four million, five hundred and eleven thousand, fifty six naira, and the company directed to pay the stated amount to Mr. Ishiali and others who were also affected within two weeks from 20th April, 2021, when the directives were issued.
The Counsel expressed worry and dissatisfaction with the nonchalant attitude of the company in obeying the directives as it has bluntly refused to compensate the affected persons, including his client, as directed by the state government.
Barrister Ajah said he had notified the State Governor, David Umahi; the Commissioner for Internal Security, Border Peace and Conflict Resolution; the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command; the Director of DSS, Ebonyi State Command; National Human Rights Commission, Abuja; the Chairman, Ohaukwu Local Government Area, and other relevant authorities about the negligence of the company, adding that he would do everything humanly possible to bring justice to his client.
He argued that his client, Mr. Samson Ishiali, a native of Aguachi village, Ukwuagba Ngbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, had been living happily with his family in his present place of abode for the past 23 years, having erected his first building in the year 1997, before Master Rock Company started the quarry beside his house in the year 2009.
Also speaking, a widow with 10 children, Mrs. Ngozi Ogo, who could not hold back her tears, appealed to the wife of the Governor and the Government of Ebonyi State that she has been deprived of her means of livelihood with her children, as her farmland has been destroyed due to the effects of the activities of the quarry mining in the area.
When contacted, the President of the town’s union, Ukwuagba Autonomous community, Hon. Moses Eze, advised the two parties to resolve the matter as directed by the state Ministry of Solid Minerals, to avoid a breach of law and order in the community.
He also stressed the need to avert the impending crisis in the area.
An attempt to reach both the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals and the management of Master Rock Company, Aguachi, at the time of this report proved abortive.