Tension On Ebonyi Community As Miners Invade Eziokposi High School
Tension has gripped the people of Okposi in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State following the invasion of Eziokposi High School by suspected sand miners.
The miners, said to be working with heavy-duty equipment, allegedly stormed the school compound with excavators and trucks, carting away laterite from the premises, a development that has devastated the school’s landscape and endangered the safety of students and teachers.
Established in 1982, Eziokposi High School is one of the oldest secondary schools in the area. Its handball pitch was completely destroyed during the excavation, leaving deep gullies across the compound.
Residents fear the environmental damage could worsen, as no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was reportedly conducted before the activity began.
The incident, which occurred on October 1, a public holiday, caught staff and students unawares.
A resident, Chinwendu Nwanja (not real name), recounted their shock when heavy machinery rolled into the school.
“Just as children resumed for the first term in the current academic session, we noticed that big trucks and caterpillars invaded the school and started excavating sand, even while children were in school,” he said.
He explained that the miners took advantage of the Independence Day celebrations, when most residents and staff were away, to begin their operations.
By the next day, the damage was so extensive that both teachers and students reportedly fled the premises in fear, uncertain about the cause or purpose of the excavation.
According to another source, the laterite was being transported to a neighbouring community where a new market is under construction by the local government.
Angered by the development, community leaders quickly mobilised residents for a peaceful protest that temporarily halted the mining activities.
However, residents allege that the operators — believed to be “close to the government” — have since issued threats to teachers and community members who tried to resist them.
“Despite our protests, those big government people behind the excavation are threatening the community and teachers for trying to stop them,” a resident revealed.
hen our reporter visited the school last week, the premises appeared deserted even at 11:00 a.m. Broken roofs, cracked walls, and abandoned classrooms painted a grim picture of years of neglect.
The contractor’s equipment was still parked on the compound, with green leaves tied around it, a local symbol of community disapproval.
Frightened residents declined to speak openly, citing threats to their safety.
“We have been warned not to say anything to anyone,” one of them said.
The community is now appealing to Governor Francis Nwifuru to urgently intervene and stop the environmental degradation and intimidation before tragedy strikes.
Source: SUN
