Commissioner Denies Ordering Shooting Of Sand Miners In Anambra

Anambra Commissioner of Environment, Felix Odimegwu, has denied giving security guards orders to shoot and assault sand miners at Ebenator.

Odimegwu stated in a statement on Monday while reacting to reports circulating online that he ordered operatives of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA Brigade) to shoot and beat some illegal sand miners operating in that community.

The alleged shooting incident, which reportedly occurred at a sand mining site in the Ọfara Ime River in Ebenator last Tuesday, has continued to generate reactions and raise serious concerns about the conduct of state government operatives.

Accusing fingers were pointed at the Odimegwu and some ministry officials, whom the victims said allegedly sent the state government’s task force and operatives that went for the operation.

But the Odimegwu, while reacting to the development, insisted that neither he nor his ministry sent security operatives to the Ebenator community.

He stated that the OCHA Brigade acted in strict compliance with the directives of the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, against sand mining by sending their officers accompanied by officers of the Anambra vigilante group to the illegal sand mining site, and not the ministry.

The commissioner used the opportunity to remind Ndi Anambra, especially local government area chairmen, that the state government had suspended sand mining in the state and whoever must mine sand in the state must obtain approval from the governor.

He said, “I did not send security operatives to shoot sand miners in the Ebenator community. The community’s landmass is ravaged by serious erosion.

“Two years ago, Soludo, in his magnanimity, approved the control and reclamation of a section of the erosion which had developed in the community, and the government is working to further approve the control and mitigation of phase two of the reclamation and mitigation of erosion in the town.

“Due to the loose nature of the Anambra soil, the governor, a few months ago, suspended sand mining activities throughout the state and set up a sand mining reform committee in that regard.

‘Whoever will be granted approval to mine sand in the state must go through proper scrutiny by the committee, after which the committee will send its report to the governor, who will give the final nod to mine the sand.

“So, in line with the directive of the Governor to OCHA brigade, the agency mobilised AVG personnel to stop individuals who were reported to be mining sand in the area against government directive.

“Unfortunately, some individuals locked the entrance gate against the AVG personnel, which prompted them to break the barricade and gain access to exit. The situation is completely under control, and there’s no cause for alarm.”