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.Urge Government Action
By Tracy Moses
A wave of unrest is sweeping through Itasa, a quiet agrarian community tucked away in the Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State. For generations, the people of Itasa have lived in harmony with their land, tilling, nurturing and reaping from its abundance. But today, that harmony has been disrupted as fear now stalks the fields and unease has taken root in the hearts of residents.
At the centre of this growing tension is Architype Industries Nigeria Limited, a mining company accused of operating illegally on the community’s ancestral land. Traditional rulers, youth leaders, and prominent indigenes have raised their voices in rare unity, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the company from their soil.
Their allegations are grave: no valid Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), no Community Development Agreement (CDA), no formal consent from the host community, and a rising tide of insecurity. The people of Itasa say they were never consulted before bulldozers rolled into their land, and now, they live under the shadow of armed threats.
A Community in Distress
“This is no longer just a land issue. It is a matter of life and death,” declared Professor Bayo Aborisade, an Itasa-born academic and one of the most vocal critics of the mining operations, he said this in a telephone interview with Pointblank News, he further described the situation as a looming crisis, environmental, social, and security-wise.
According to him, the miners, suspected to be foreigners, have been issuing threats to villagers. “They don’t speak English but Hausa only. They are protected by thugs who have warned us to stay away from the site or face deadly consequences,” he revealed.
The traditional ruler of the community, Oba Michael Sijuola Oyediran, the Onitile of Itasa, also expressed deep concern. “We are not against development, but it must be lawful and beneficial. The company is operating without regard for our lives, our land, and our laws,” he said,
Backing the king’s appeal, leaders like Alhaji Banji Isiaka Odedele, Mr. Jelili Ogunlade, and Mr. Julius Farounbi spoke to Pointblank separately on how insecurity has paralyzed farming activities, the community’s lifeblood.
“We cannot go to our farms. We are scared. How are we supposed to feed our families?” Ogunlade asked.
A Pattern of Neglect and Impunity
The crisis in Itasa is far from isolated. It mirrors a disturbing trend in Nigeria’s mining sector, one marked by regulatory lapses, environmental violations, and community disenfranchisement.
Recall that in April 2023, residents of Eyinmosan in Ondo State blocked access to a Chinese mining site after accusing the company of land grabbing and water pollution. Similarly, in February 2022, the people of Bagega in Zamfara State protested the resurgence of illegal mining in the area, years after a lead poisoning outbreak claimed over 400 lives, most of them children in 2010.
Despite the establishment of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) and the regulatory oversight of the Ministry of Solid Minerals, enforcement of laws such as the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007 remains weak. The law mandates miners to obtain EIAs and CDAs and to engage meaningfully with host communities before breaking ground. Yet, many firms, especially those with foreign links, are emboldened by lax regulation and alleged political backing.
Legal Backing, Yet Powerless
Community lawyer and human rights advocate Mr. Femi Aborisade minced no words. He stated, “The company is violating the law, they don’t have a valid EIA, they have no agreement with the community, and they have ignored a directive from the local government to halt operations.”
Aborisade warned of a possible escalation. “If the Federal Government does not intervene immediately, this could degenerate into open conflict.”
Call for Justice and Protection
The people of Itasa are not alone in their cry for justice. Civil society organizations and environmental watchdogs have long warned of the growing dangers posed by unregulated mining across Nigeria. In May 2024, Global Rights, an advocacy group focused on natural resource justice, launched a national campaign calling for stricter enforcement of mining laws and greater protection for mining host communities.
“The story of Itasa is a symptom of a deeper problem,” the group noted in a statement. “Communities are being pushed aside, their land and livelihoods destroyed, and their voices silenced, all in the name of development.”
A Looming Decision
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, now faces a moral and legal test: protect the rights of a rural community or turn a blind eye to another unfolding mining disaster.
As the sun sets over the farmlands of Itasa, the people are left with a simple demand, respect for their land, their rights, and their future. Whether their cry is heard will speak volumes about Nigeria’s commitment to environmental justice and the rule of law.