Tension heightens in Edo community over closure of mining site

•We shut down mining site to avoid escalation of crisis—Gov Obaseki
•We don’t want war —Community Elders

Simon Ebegbulem, Benin City

There has been tension in Okpella community, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State following the mining war between two giant companies in the production of cement in the country, the BUA Group and Dangote, over a disputed mining site in Obu community in Okpella. The disagreement between the two companies have polarized Okpella community, as supporters of both parties commenced the beating of drums of war heightening tension in the community.

Both Dangote and BUA are laying claim to a juicy mining site in Obu but worried by the tension, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals, last week shut down the site until the pending cases on the issue before the courts are resolved. The mining war in…