Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has made it clear that he would soon embark on reclaiming gold mining site around the Central Senatorial area of the State from illegal foreign miners.
The governor sought the cooperation of the leadership of the area, including Sensor Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (representing Kogi Central Senatorial Area in the Senate) to effectively take possession of the site.
Speaking forcefully in Ebira language, at the palace of the paramount ruler, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Anaje, in a trending video clip on social media, Governor Ododo said that his attention to the mining site was drawn by a good Samaritan from Ekiti State.
Ododo, who did not give the specific location of the site as he addressed the Ohinoyi and his subject, said that the illegal mining activities by foreign miners have been going on in the past 30 years.
He said that when his attention was drawn to the site, he first sent one of his commissioners to verify the fact at the site but that some youth who were guarding the site prevented entry into it.
“I then sent another delegation with security personnel to the site. To my surprise, the delegation confirmed that no fewer than 1,500 people were there (on the site), mining our wealth,” Ododo lamented.
He regretted that while the people, especially the youths in the area are wallowing in poverty and lack of jobs, some foreigners have taken advantage of the kindness of the local people to take over their wealth.
“This time around, your Royal Majesty, we are not going to sit and watch foreign elements tapping our wealth while our people are jobless and hungry.”
