ANAMBRA STATE: - Umuchu Solid Minerals and Illegal Mining...By Sixtus Ezennaya

It is no longer a mere speculation that Umuchu in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State has in commercial quantity solid Mineral deposits but what is not yet clear is what the mineral deposits are. Whoever has passed along the new and ever busy Umunze-Umuchu-Uga-Igbokwu highway precisely at Ibughubu-Umuchu near Agho River (the natural boundary of Umuchu and Umunze) will see people of various sizes and ethnic groups in the mining sites scooping and excavating the products. Most of the time, the minerals are loaded in trailers at night and taken to unknown destinations.


Some of my discussants at the site alleged that the vehicles headed towards Umuahia, Abia State, while others claimed that Northerners also came for the products. The astonishing and funniest aspects of it are that the trailers for loading of these minerals are usually hidden outside the site of the mining to eclipse the activities of these illegal miners from the notice of eagle-eyed Government agents. My investigations to know what the minerals are led me into taking some raw samples to laymen Chemical Dealers and opinions were divided as to their use. The minerals are suspected to be Barite, Bentonite, Clay, Iron-ore, and Lignite according to them used in the production of Paint, Steel and Cement or in the drilling of Water Borehole. However, the pure laboratory analysis is still underway.


Much as the discovery of the minerals in the area is a blessing at least to help open up the 20-village Community sharing common borders with Arondizuogu, Ibinta, Umualaoma and Akokwa all in Imo State, Uga, Amesi, Achina, Enugu Umuonyia, Umuomaku, Ezira and Umunze all in Anambra State, the illegal mining business needs to be drawn to the attention of the State Ministry of Solid Minerals (if there is any), Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals and Senate Committee for Solid Mineral for proper and organized harnessing. This is why the prompt intervention with security agents of HRH Igwe G. O. Ezechukwu of Umuchu on Tuesday 16th October 2006 is applauded and most welcomed. The rat does not steal something from one who is awake but only from one asleep. But, then let the foray on these illegal miners not be a goldmine for members of the Nigerian Police Force.


The fact that oil boom has beclouded the visions of many States in Nigeria culminating into laissez-faire attitude or total abandonment of other sources of revenue should not be allowed to befall Anambra State. In as much as the lion feeds on goat, sheep, and other bigger animals, it does not turn blind eye to termites, rodents, grasshoppers, and locusts. In fact, it also picks them.


Nasarawa State has no oil deposit but Solid Minerals are her major export. It is from this God given endowment as augment to Federal Allocations from oil that she pays workers salaries, funds her State University and Polytechnics besides infrastructural development. In fact, the study of Geography in the Primary and Secondary Schools made us known that the whole Northern State of Nigeria are naturally endowed with Solid Minerals consequently none of these states jokes with these minerals. Little wonder why standing among those found in the illegal mining site at Umuchu were people with Caftan or Agbada dress and “Shagari” Cap suspected to be Northerners.



The Ebony State Government gets much revenue from the sales of “Stone-Chippings and Stone-Quarry Industries” at Ishiagu and Afikpo as the Solid Mineral is used in building and road constructions. Glass Industries make use of even sand as one of their major raw materials hence the State Governments of Lagos, Delta, Abia etc where these Industries are located do tax them heavily for the use of the “Solid Mineral.” Could it be true that Anambra State Government plays “Father Christmas” to excavation of sand commercially at Rivers Niger and Anambra or simply put; who do the tax-agents collecting dues from these excavators account to ? Why the natural resources of Anambra State should be treated like the property of one who has joined his ancestors, “No Man’s land” or “Tax-Free Dubai” is supposed to give concern to all and sundry. The Government should place “CAVEAT EMPTOR” on the activities of these illegal miners at Ibughubu-Umuchu and go ahead to set up machinery to do the appropriate thing to these mineral deposits. If Government intervention is further delayed, gully erosion is imminent which is likely to threaten the highway. In the words of Seneca, “He who does not forbid sin when he can, encourages it” (Qui non vetat peccare cum posit jubet). The continued activities of the illegal miners are hinged on the presumed inactivity of the Anambra State Government in the past, as nature abhors vacuum. According to one of the illegal miners who claimed to be an unemployed graduate of University of Maiduguri, “Why I do not look back while dealing with a widow is because I known very well, the destination of the husband.”


Apart from these particular mineral sites at Ibughubu-Umuchu, Government of Anambra State searchlight should be beamed on deposits of minerals in other places in the State. Available data show that Clays are found in Ukpor, Okija, Ozubulu, Aguleri, Ihembosi, Enugwu Ukwu, Ihiala, Omor, Umuchu and Umunze. Lignite is in large quantity at Nnewi, Oba and Ozubulu. Sand and Sandstone: Nando, Ukpor, Obosi, Onitsha (River Niger), Otuocha and Oyi. Substantial quantities of Ironstone are found in Umuchu, Nnewi, Abor, Aguleri, Ogbunka and Owerre Ezukala. Gypsum: Awka and Onitsha. Bentonite: Awka. Pyrite: Onitsha and Nsugbe. Coal exists in commercial quantity at Owerre Ezukala. Federal Government should make haste to start drilling other oil wells located variously at Alo, Igbariam, Anam, Aguleri, Ogbaru etc. The issue of boundary disputes between Atani in Anambra State and Oguta in Imo State has continued to deny Anambra State the revenue accruable to the state from oil. The on-going efforts of the National Boundary Commission to resolve all States boundary disputes should be sustained to enable the issue resolved. If these Atani oil-rich farmland allegedly “leased out” in the past for farming to Oguta farmers are recovered, Anambra State will become the least Oil Producing State in Nigeria thus a license to becoming a beneficiary of the Presidential largesse for the youths of the Niger Delta States. The unemployed youths in the State will indeed have recuperation and succour from this benevolence there from also extricates themselves from idleness, which is the devils theatre. Provision of jobs to the youths would help to check youth restiveness. MASSOB, Militancy, NARTO, Pipe-line vandalization, NURTW, RTEAN, Okada Riding, Prostitution, Armed robbery etc are all bye-products of idleness and frustration. Indeed a man who plans to plant corn or banana should endeavour to make peace with the monkeys.
Mr. Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London.

ABIA STATE: Vacancies for Touts...By Sixtus Ezennaya

God’s Own State is the sobriquet of Abia State. By virtue of this motto, it is not unexpected that Abia State will be a replica of heaven where angels work. But is this the true position of things or just a fallacy? The truth is that Abia State is one state in Nigeria where touting market is never saturated. Touts have the ever ready vacancies for employment and occupation here, hence the rampage of kidnappers. Therefore, the Agberos of Lagos, Dan Chowa Chowas of Kano, Akpuobis, Isiekweonwus in Igboland, town council walking corpses, ex-criminals etc are welcome. Qualification is for one to be a macho-man, dare-devil in outlook with heartless disposition. However, one with the flair for fighting, hooting, intimidation, “point and kill” is an advantage. But then, won’t it be better for Abia State to establish the first “TOUTING ACADEMY” in Nigeria?

One needs to be a living witness to the activities of these barbarians. My visit to Enyimba City for an Award on Sunday 20th December 2009 from the Catholic Youths Organization of Nigeria (CYON) at Christ the King Cathedral Aba was revealing. For the few days I was in Aba before leaving for home for Christmas, I saw hell. In fact, Abia has returned to the jungle era of the hoodlums; The Jangos, Aragas, (Ajagba Mafia) Capol, Stones, Ezeges, Apoos, GOCs, Joking Jaquas, Ajagirigwes, Ogbanjes, Egbelus, Ngworos and German Brass. Soldiers and Policemen are licensed to shoot but touts are paid to kill. If you have not been to the pit latrine, you will never know that cockroaches feed on excreta.

The services of these inhuman apes are hired by all government agencies in Abia State. For example, the ASEPA makes use of them for revenue drive or debt recovery. Even when the Court workers were on strike, these sons of Nebuchadnezzar were functioning alongside the law enforcement agents. The Arrangee, Kangaroo or Jankara Courts are used by these touts to extort money from those arrested as defaulters. The Obstruction / Illegal Parking Unit of the Local Government seems to constitute the home of touts. As one is driving perhaps in an unauthorized place, the touts would forcefully pursue the moving vehicle, open the driver’s door and march on the brake while struggling with the steering with the driver. Whenever there is an accident consequent of such action, these touts usually run away to avert mob action. If the owner of the vehicle goes to make a report to Police, further enquiries at the Local Government usually show that such people are not known to the office neither are they employees. The question then is, who are they accountable to? Again, is the Local Government indirectly empowering the public to confront these revenue collectors? The Business Premises Unit, Illegal Structures, Infrastructural Levy Unit, Building Construction Unit (alias Stop Work Order by LG), Market Stall Unit that collect the compulsory N3000 tax etc make use of these touts. Why must Local and State Government Areas and Commissioners in Abia State make touts relevant and indispensable? Who would believe that in Cameroon, there is no single tout in all the motor parks in Douala, Yaoundé, Kumba, Bafoussan etc? But here in Nigeria, touts pack themselves in vehicles in motor parks disguising as passengers. One by one, they disembark from the vehicle as genuine passengers fill the vehicles. Today, “One Chance” vehicles usually used by touts to rob passengers in Lagos, are now seen in Abia State. Joblessness has even extended the job of touting to girls. Touts are indeed sine-qua-non because of their presence but their absence will show their irrelevance.

Could it be true that Aba, the commercial cum industrial nerve centre of Abia State, has now more “women” than men? Gone were the days when Aba was Aba, when yes was yes for Aba guys. That was the time when Aba people would resist injustice and intimidation. The menace of kidnappers has broken the backbone of Aba leaving the flesh. Yes, the men have deserted the town leaving the boys. In fact, the “castration” of Aba has adversely affected the economy of the town and State. Jeeps are sparingly seen. Buildings and plots of land for sale find no easy buyers. Abia sons and daughters in Europe, America etc stop at Lagos or Abuja and ask their relatives to come to those places for heart to heart discussions or to see them. For those who would risk coming to Abia at all, they never allow evening to set before running out of the town. For how long will this siege last?

Would anyone believe that digital electric meters given free of charge in the North are yet to be installed in Abia? Electricity bills are paid in advance and estimation is the method of billing but Pay As You Consumed is the tax system. Telephone is also pay as you use. Food in our restaurants, is pay as you eat. People are advised to cut their coat according to their cloth. Why must Abia State be the metaphorical “NWA MKPI” (he-goat) that negotiated for the measurement of the size of its scrotum by proxy hence its oversize? Worse still, what has the bat done that it must hang on a tree branch with head upside-down instead of perching or squatting like other animals? Who takes the blame?

It should bleed the heart of every reasonable Igbo man that epileptic electricity bill is on estimation and upfront payment in Igboland yet no Igboman complains. PHCN realizes more than 50% of its monthly revenue from Igboland but why Igboland should work like an elephant and eat like an ant is puzzling. Abia buildings need digital meters to halt the illegal connection problem by private touts besides the problem of disconnection of bill defaulting buildings by PHCN hired touts. Most importantly, digital meters would ensure proper accountability to the PHCN and the consumers.

Oh Aba, how are the mighty fallen. The industrial heart beat of Abia State is gone. The Enyimba City of the Aba Giant Killers, of the Enyimba Football Club, the African champions, of the Nigerian Breweries, of the International Equitable, of the Lever Brothers, of the Abatex, of the Ariaria International Market, of the Dick Tigers, of the Mbakwes, of the Margret Ekpo and her 1929 Aba Women Riot against imposition of tax on women by the Colonial masters, has vamoosed into oblivion.

Abia State Government should cease from patronizing touts and even stop their operation in Abia State to stop further underdevelopment of the State. Could it be true that their importance manifest during elections. Abia State is becoming a SECUNDUS DOMUS to kidnappers because of the presence of government touts. The sore on the skin of the dog is why flies follow it.

Finally, when I was returning from a trip to Europe sometime in the past, robbers attacked one Europe based passenger-friend of mine in his hotel room in Lagos and dispossessed him of his hard earned Euro. As I was commiserating with him he exclaimed , “It is now I know I have no Country.” The deplorable and moribund state of roads in Abia State particularly Aba truly show that Mbakwe is dead. In other words, “it is now that Aba people know that Chief Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe PhD is dead.

Mr. Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London.

Visiting Alabingo Republic, the 37th State of Nigeria... By SIXTUS EZENNAYA

If you are asked how many states that make up Nigeria, what will be your answer? Many Nigerians will say thirty six. However, this is not untrue. But have you been opportuned to visit, being a guest better still an inmate to any Police cell, detention camp, Awaiting Trial Men (ATM) or Prison yard in Nigeria? If you have, is your experience similar to the one of this write-up? But if you have not, this encounter will give you an insight of what it looks like.



Unlike the journey or visit to an ordinary State which is always voluntary, the visit to the Alabingo Republic or the 37th State is mandatorily not out of one’s volition. The forced or coerced visit always begins with either Police arrest and / or subsequent Court order.



In the case of Police cell, as soon as the accused is brought to the Station sometimes in handcuff, he is intimidatingly compelled by the Police to pull off all his clothings. Nevertheless, records of these belongings are kept. Police employs all manners of pranks and intimidatory actions aimed at subduing and suppressing a victim. As a superior officer comes in, the junior officer will narrate to him what prompted the arrest, how stubborn the accused was in the process. In fact, he is a suspect. But there are Policemen who perform this duty satisfactorily and with high sense of commitment and decency even to the admiration of the detainee. Some Policeman do extort the true information from the suspect with diplomacy while many use force and intimidation. “Oga see O!, dis na one of those who make this land ungovernable!” Is he a kidnaper, armed robber or what, Oga would ask. He is not any of those but something more dangerous than that, the Policeman would say. The Superior officer would turn to the detainee and say politely, “Mr. Man who are you? What brought you here? Take his statement.” Bring N100 for foolscap for the statement…. The detainee would be asked whether he would be able to write this statement or to be assisted. Where he can write his statement, he is obliged to do it but if he cannot, there is a Policeman who can do it for him after which it is read over to him for appendage of his thumb-print or signature. The next stage is going into the “Alabingo Republic.”



In the cell, the accused would meet all manners of people who are arrested for different types of crime. As he is welcomed into the jam-packed cell, he would receive all types of beatings until he redeems himself with money. He would be searched thoroughly so that no kobo is left with him. And to circumvent the ugly beatings, the accused would be told to insert some money in his anus which he doles out at the appropriate time. One dares not to bring out bigger denomination of the currency with the hope of getting some balance. In fact the way the “cell-show” will be snatched by these “hungry lions” will pre-empt to you what Alabingo Republic is all about.



After the welcome ritual, the Governor, No. 1, GOC, or the Boss man as the case may be, would mandate the newest entrant to be cross-examined. This is one of the ways Police obtain true information about a suspect as the suspect may be unsuspicious of anything. Many armed robbers have exposed themselves in the cell-interaction thinking they are exposing their bravado.



The aide-camp to the henchman would ask some questions to the suspect. One, how many states are there in Nigeria? Any answer except their own “correct” one would attract big blows that would send the victim scampering on the ground. And the correct answer is always thirty six plus one which is equal to thirty seven. Police cell, ATM, Detention centre or Prison yard is always regarded as a State. Thirty six states exist in the “outside” world while only one is in the “inside” in the prison parlance.



Second question would be something like this; what brought you into this place? Any answer to prove that you are innocent will attract a resounding slap or blow as one will be seen as a coward. But then if you manufacture lies of how tough you have been, you would be accorded respect. A near-giant size luxury bus driver was brought into the cell. No sooner had he arrived than he started beating the Governor. He beat him to the extent of “over throwing” his government. While the fight raged on, the inmates shouted that a cannibal has been brought into the cell. When everything was calm, the aide camp took clothes in the cell to fan the giant who now sat on the only clean spot in the cell dishing out orders. This is Alabingo Republic for real. Though beatings, torture etc greet new entrants to the cell, there is still much honour and respect when one is a human right activist, revolutionary writer, journalist, attorney, etc. They would flinch and distance their inhuman and barbaric treatment from the one rather implore the person to bring their plight to the “outside world” as they know that soonest the person would leave the “inside world.”



A man of 65 years was brought into the cell for raping a 13 year old girl. In the morning when the DPO came for normal morning parade (ward round), the PO intoned, “Oga see that man that disvirgined that yellow class one student.” So, you are the one who does not know your age, asked the DPO. How old are you? The man pokerfaced and said, “Oga 65.” I will like to see him in my office, the DPO directed. No sooner had the DPO left than the Boss man summoning him and after scolding, commanded him to dis-virgin a small half inch diameter hole on the wall in the cell. The man obeyed humiliatingly and struggled with the assignment. Occasionally, he would receive two bare hand slaps on his back. Guess what happened. It was the wall that rather disvirgined the man’s genital and in the process he fainted. This generated uproar and anxiety though none was ruffled as it is a norm.



In the cell, noise means nothing as inmates and the Police authorities are used to that. Hooting, singing, fighting, crying, discussing, talking, gisting etc are not out of bound. The Police Officer in charge of the cell pays no heed. The odour emitting from the cell will eclipse the fart of one who has not visited the toilet for a day. Whether cell, ATM or prison, if an inmate has a visitor, food material, gift to an inmate is usually distributed to every body. Over time cordial relationship of the inmates make this possible. There is a slogan here, “with good arrangement, Satan can see God.” To watch television and other extra curricula activities, your “tithe” to the PO or warder can do the impossibility. For example, film watching accrues N20 per person to the warder. Even warders and Police officers are aware of the smoking of marijuana, cigarette etc by the inmates. But then, who sells these things to the inmates? Perhaps, this might account for the high incidence of mentally deranged inmates.



Unlike cell where freedom is curtailed, prison is more organized even though there is no absolute freedom. Football matches are organized between wards, evangelization to the inmates by various religious denominations are allowed, washing of one’s clothes, bathing as many times as one wishes to, are also not out of bound, since the presence of water borehole makes it possible. Visitors are allowed to see prisoners but the one visited must be on the prison attire. On the quality of their food according to an inmate, “if ten cups of rice are for dinner, eight cups will be real rice while sand or pebble constitute the balance.



When a detainee is to be bailed, the person bailing the detainee is asked to sign a bail bond. The bail fee depends on the crime committed besides the personality of the bailing-agent irrespective of the bold inscription in the Station “BAIL IS FREE.” The person bailing the accused is compelled to sign that no money was paid for bail. Despite the obvious fact that Alabingo Republic is not a good place to visit or stay, it is a sine-qua-non to every society. Who thinks that the Police will want a crime-free society? Harlots and prostitutes will go hungry in a place where there are no nincompoops, drunkards and loafers.



Finally, always try to visit places like prison, hospitals, cemetery etc for life-meditation besides giving comfort to the afflicted. Bishop V. V. Ezeonyia C. S. Sp of Catholic Diocese of Aba once said, “Christianity is comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comforted.” Leo Buscalgia in his articulation said, “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around!



Mr. Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London.