By Jelili Gbadamosi
A dispute over mining activities in a protected forest has emerged in Cross River State following the arrest of 17 suspected illegal miners operating in Ekuri Eyenyen and Etara communities in Etung Local Government Area.
The suspects were arrested by the Special Anti-Poaching Squad of the Cross River National Park following intelligence on alleged mining activities within the protected area.
The Conservator of Parks, CP Joseph Ntui Assam, said mining, hunting, logging, farm encroachment and water poisoning were prohibited within the National Park.
Assam warned that illegal mining could worsen land degradation, pollute streams and farmlands, and expose surrounding communities to environmental and public health risks.
He also expressed concern over reports that some mining licences issued by federal authorities may have overlapped with areas reserved for the National Park.
At the centre of the controversy is B4Live Integrated Services, registered by Ekpo Mbang Eno and linked to mining activities in the affected area.
The Cross River Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Effiom-Ekaha Otu, confirmed that the company was known to the state ministry and had obtained a federal mining licence.
Otu, however, said the licence might have overlapped with a protected area, stressing that the Mining Cadastre Office would need to clarify the boundaries before the licence holder could be regarded as an illegal miner.
The Federal Mines Office in Cross River also confirmed that B4Live Integrated Services had been granted a small-scale mining lease covering two cadastral units in Ekuri, Etung Local Government Area.
The Federal Mines Officer, Engr. Ayelabola Olubunmi, acknowledged that overlaps between mining licences and protected areas could occur, noting that the National Park had previously raised concerns over similar situations.
Meanwhile, Eno denied employing the 17 arrested miners to carry out illegal operations in the park. He said he had engaged 40 miners and 10 supervisors after obtaining the necessary approvals and community consent.
He maintained that he was unaware that the licensed mining area extended into a restricted zone and called for proper demarcation of protected areas to prevent conflicts between licensed mining operators and conservation authorities.
The development has renewed concerns over illegal mining, environmental degradation and possible regulatory lapses in the issuance of mining licences.
Stakeholders have consequently called for closer coordination among mining regulators, conservation authorities and local communities to ensure that licensed mining operations do not encroach on protected areas and that environmental regulations are properly enforced.
