Kogi Assembly gives Miners Association one week ultimatum to resolve dispute over alleged arms, ammunitions hoarding

The Kogi State House of Assembly has given Association of Miners a one week ultimatum to resolve their disputes within their members in Ankpa and other affiliate unions in the State.

The ultimatum was given by the Chairman, House Committee on public petition Hon. Paul Enema,  when the Kogi State Chairman, Association of Miners,Oruma Yunusa and other key stakeholders appeared before the lawmakers over alleged arms and ammunitions hoarding by Chinese Nationals in Agumagu, one of the mining site in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Our Kogi State Correspondent, reports that Hon. Enema, noted that the ultimatum given will enable the aggrieved parties come together and work for the interest of Kogi State.

The Lawmaker, who is the current Deputy Speaker and member representing Dekina/Okura State Constituency noted that it was saddened and very worrisome to here information that some group of individuals were stockpiling arms and ammunitions to disrupt the people in Kogi State.

This he said will not be entertained by the Government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello adding that, the house will investigate the matter to a logical conclusion.

While warning that no Citizen of Kogi State should take laws into their hands, the lawmaker charged the aggrieved parties to sheath their sword by embracing peace for the interest of Kogi State.

" The real basis of the petition was arms and ammunitions hoarding in the coal business of Ankpa Local Government. That was why we invited the Chairman of the Local Government who later gave us his report that there was nothing of such. 

"The companies they are accusing came here to testify that they had nothing to do with arms and ammunitions and their Chinese partner that the petitioner is also accusing, from our preliminary investigation, the house gathered that they are reputable international company that don't soil their hands in any dirty deals.

" Haven heard from the Chairman Kogi State Association of Miners that we should give them the grace of one week so that he can put his house order. The house is expecting him to come back in one week time with the progress report.

" Like the Executive Chairman did say, we can call the Divisional Police Officer of Ankpa Local Government, Area Commander, Chief of Agumagu to ask if there was such. We are waiting for the Chairman to report back to the house for his findings. There will be resolution at the end of the day before necessary actions is taken by this hallow chamber.

Also speaking, the Lawmaker representing Ankpa I State Constituency, Hon. Lawal Akus

posited that the allegations of hoarding arms and ammunitions was weighty and should not be taken with levity.

"We have given them the ample opportunity for all the parties to go and discuss, in a bid to resolve the issue. We feel it is the responsibility of lawmakers to look into the allegations that were raised and come up with peaceful resolutions before we can take further action. 

"Ankpa is very calm and peaceful. There is no tension as widely speculated. What we heard as at today is that the Chinese people mining in Ankpa is depriving the indegenous people access to market. 

"We feel that it is something that the union people can resolve with the Chinese people by looking at the problem holistically with the aim of putting an end to the dispute. If they can't resolve it among themselves, the house will wade in through the State apparatus and set whatever condition that we think will be beneficial to the people of Ankpa Local Government and the State at large" he stated.

It could be recalled that the Kogi State House of Assembly had received a petition from a group of Concerned Citizens of Kogi, who decried the ongoing destruction of lives and property at mining sites in Ankpa local government area of the state.

The petition titled: “Please come to our rescue: The illegal activities of Chinese Coal Miners in Ankpa LGA; a Threat to Economy, Security and Progress of Ankpa and Kogi in general ” was signed by Mustapha Yaqub and Rebecca Andrew, Group Leader and Woman Leader respectively.

The petition read by the Deputy Speaker of the house, Anema Paul (APC-Dekina/Okura II) alleged that the Chinese were using organised criminal cartel to assist and aid their criminal exploits in the area.

“The Chinese have forced out other legal miners from business by means of threat and assassination of patriotic residents resisting the organised crime.

“Sad to note, that Chinese miners, through some Nigerians, are recruiting vulnerable youths into cartels and giving them guns and other dangerous weapons smuggled into this community by the Chinese.

“These youth who are regarded as Chinese foot soldiers are being given illegal and unlicensed firearms to protect the illegal bid of the Chinese and there’s wide spread rumors of assassination attempts being linked to the Chinese miners.

“For the first time in decades, we are experiencing very frequent high profile assassination attempts in our community, The Chinese are said to be the core sponsors of this inhumanity.

“Their target is to intimidate other legal miners from business and eliminate people who try to resist their criminal exploits. The boldness they use in carrying out these nefarious activities is brutal and worrisome,

“Sir, though their crimes are many, as a matter of urgency they should be nipped in the bud in order to avert the looming communal crisis, youth unrest, riot and destruction of life/property, ” the petition read.

The group further alleged that every economic benefit goes to the Chinese through their divide and rule conspiracy that is highly volatile to the peace of the state and community.

It also alleged that the Chinese “indiscriminately wreak havoc on our farmlands; drill trap holes while searching for coal and never care to reclaim the sites afterword, leaving behind trap holes in areas they carryout mining, while the helpless farm owners cannot challenge them due to fear of assassination.”

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