17 ARTISANAL MINERS ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED ENCROACHMENT ON CROSS RIVER NATIONAL PARK

Seventeen artisanal miners have been arrested in Cross River State for allegedly carrying out mining activities within protected areas of the Cross River National Park. The suspects, who are from Ekuri Eyenyen and Etara communities in Etung Local Government Area, were apprehended by the park’s Special Anti-Poaching Squad following intelligence received by the authorities.

The Conservator of Parks, CP Joseph Ntui, disclosed the arrests while speaking with journalists in Calabar on Tuesday. He stressed that the national park is a protected area where activities including mining, hunting, logging, farming encroachment and water poisoning are prohibited.

Ntui expressed concern about the alleged mining activities, saying they could have serious consequences for the environment, public health, security and the local economy. He said streams and farmlands around Etara and Ekuri Eyenyen had been polluted, leaving residents with limited access to safe sources of drinking water.

The conservator also raised concerns over the issuance of mining licences covering areas within the national park. He alleged that some licences were issued by the Mining Cadastre Office in Abuja and the Federal Mines Office in Calabar, despite restrictions protecting the area. The Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Effiom-Ekaha Otu, however, said some licences could have inadvertently overlapped with reserved areas.

The mining operator at the centre of the controversy, Ekpo Mbang Eno, maintained that he had obtained the necessary government approvals and was unaware that the location was within a restricted area. He also denied hiring the 17 miners arrested by the park authorities. Meanwhile, stakeholders have called on relevant government agencies to improve the mapping and verification of mining areas before issuing licences in order to prevent conflicts between legitimate mining operations and protected areas.