Afao Ekiti Community protested over the activities of Chinese miners that have caused havock on their buildings and environmental hazard they were encountering daily in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area.
Angered by the primitive ways the miners blast rocks in the quarry site at Odo Family which had affected most of their buildings without any Corporate Social Responsibilities to the community necessitated the protest on Monday which comprises women, youths and the elders of the community.
The protesters who displayed different inscriptions such as “Save Our Souls”, “Afao Community Is Badly Affected By Their Blast”, “Save Our Soul: Iketun Houses Are Collapsing”, “Governor Oyebanji Save Our Buildings”, We Are Suffering”, “Save Us From Heavy Explosions”, and “Use Low Tension Explosives”.
Others reads, “The Company Lacks Socials Responsibility”, “Ekiti People: Save Afao Souls”, “Our Buildings Are Collapsing”, “Rock Explosions Cracking Our Houses”, “BAO Save Our Houses”, “Save Our Soul”, “Afao Buildings Not Safe”.
Precise news gathered that Chinese miners were exploiting and exploring the resources of Afao Ekiti Community without any recourse to the land owners and the community.They alleged that their roads were bad and the miners had no contribution to the development of the community.
Speaking with the Traditional Ruler of Afao Ekiti, Oba Joseph Ademilua Ajibare II, The Alafao Of Afao Ekiti, said “his entire Community people are tired over the illegal mining and exploitation of their God Given resources such as rocks and quarry located in their community by the illegal miners”. We have been talking and complaining to the illegal miners since last year before the former Chairman of Afao Development Council left office. At the moment, our houses and properties have damaged as a result of the miners illegal exploration. They have refused to yield to our calls and appeals before now. They have almost destroyed all our houses”, he hinted.
Oba Ademilua however called on Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji to help wade into the matter , saying their calls and agitations were not honoured because they were given security cover by Soldiers “Our roads have totally failed. We want the State Government to assist us before our roads become totally unpassable”.
“We want the illegal miners to take the proper steps and channels before they can continue to mine and explore the God Given resources belonging to us as a community and as a people”, Oba Ademilua submitted.
Also, the Sapetu of Afao Ekiti Kingdom, High Chief Laolu Omosilade revealed that, “over 100 houses have cracked while about 6 have totally collapsed as a result of the vibrations coming from the high explosives being used to blast the rock”.
Speaking in the same vein, the Odolofin of Afao Ekiti Kingdom, High Chief Oludele Alli, said the illegal miners have failed to fulfil their Corporate Social Responsibility to the people of Afao Ekiti Kingdom despite the effect of the terrible explosions they always carried out on the rock and quarry site in their community.
Corroborating the decision of the community, the Chairman of Afao Development Council, Rtd. Col. Tunde Oluwayose berated the attitude of the illegal miners for showing no concern to the people and the community that they have been exploiting their resources and destroying their livelihood and houses.
He lamented why foreigners will come to their community to be mining their resources without any approval or consultations with them or the State Government. He however appealed to the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji to find time to visit the quarry and see things for himself before the illegal miners wreck more havoc on the peace loving people of Afao Ekiti.
The Youth Leader of Afao Ekiti Kingdom, Mr. Tope Egunjobi while speaking with the Treasure Newspaper added, and called on the Ekiti State Government and Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji to urgently stepped into the matter to further prevent the illegal miners from exploiting the resources in their community and in their State.
In a swift reaction, representative of the Miners, Pastor Ajayi who came to address the protester appealed to them to table and channel their grievances and demands through him, promising them to convey same to the Chinese Company with the assurance of meaningful development.