From Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State House of Assembly Committee on Public Petition, Justice and Judiciary has issued a warrant of arrest on the director of a mining company, First Patriot Company, Mr Obia Alio, over alleged damage of property and insensitivity to the plight of the host community.
The committee chairman, Mr Innocent Nomeh made the disclosure when they paid on-the-spot assessment to Enyim Agelegu Ndufu Alike, following a series of petition filled against First Patriot Company formally known as Royal Salt Company limited.
In a petition written to the committee by Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Mr Romanus Okemini and Elder Clement Mgbebu lamented the high-handedness of the management of First Patriot Company, as its blasting activities always leave them in agony of material and human loss.
They equally expressed dissatisfaction over the way the company has been using military men to subdue their complaints in the face of the destruction of their farmlands, buildings and properties including poisoning by the exhumed minerals which allegedly has left so many dead.
The people resolved that in as much as the company is no more beneficial to them as envisaged, they should leave their land.
The Priest-in-charge of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Reverend Father Augustine Ovia said the damages done to the church building has rendered it unsafe for worshipers, as all the walls and roofings have either cracked or caved in.
Nomeh lamented the extent of the damages done to the farmlands and buildings, especially the church which is just a stone throw from the blasting site and ordered the immediate arrest of the director of the company, following his refusal to appear before the committee on several invitations.
Nomeh said from the scenes on ground, First Patriot Company has failed in providing safety measures as contained in the Mining Act and has not fulfilled its obligations to the host community, but rather decided to turn a deaf ear to their plight.
The committee chairman maintained that he met a suffocating situation on ground, where the mining activities of the company has rendered majority of the villagers homeless and subjected them to perpetual fear.
He urged the villagers to maintain peace and remain calm, as the Ebonyi State government led by Governor Francis Nwifuru would find a lasting solution to their plight.
Speaking, the member representing Ikwo North, Mr Ifeanyi Nwakpa said efforts have been taken to ameliorate the sufferings of the people and assured the affected persons of getting justice.
The victims, including Mr Okemini and Clement Mgbebu, who said their buildings had been shattered to the foundation, appealed to the committee to help them by making the company do the needful.
When contacted, the liaison officer to the company, Mr Marcilenus Chukwu said the company was good at dribbling them, as both farmlands and buildings had been destroyed.
Meanwhile, the President of Enyim Agalegu Town Union, Mr Oboke Chukwu said the company was not straight forward in its dealings with the host community and requested that they quit from the village.
