Sand miners in Onitsha, Anambra State, have protested alleged extortion by the Anambra State government, insisting they are only answerable to the federal government through the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA.
About 200 members of the Onitsha Sand Miners Association held a march within the premises of NIWA, near the River Niger, holding placards with various inscriptions. They insisted they have met the obligations of the federal government, which they consider their landlord.
The miners, who are mostly tipper drivers, said that despite obtaining relevant documents from NIWA, a federal government agency in charge of mining within the River Niger, a state government agency, Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra, also known as OCHA Brigade, has been harassing and extorting them.
President of the Onitsha Sand Miners Association, Mr. Christopher Mbaegbu, who addressed journalists immediately after the protest, said the state government agency has become a thorn in their side.
“We are here today to complain about the incessant harassment we get from members of OCHA Brigade, who come to the mining site at will, disrupt our operations, and also arrest and impound our tippers.
“We came here so that the Area Manager of NIWA, Victor Nwokeocha, will hear our cry. We have relevant documents from NIWA that support and empower our operations, but we have been constantly harassed and arrested by this state government agency, OCHA Brigade.
“Every day we are being hounded. A week ago, they came and took about 20 tippers, pay loaders, trucks, and other equipment. They arrested our workers and kept them for two days.
“So we decided to hold this protest to ask NIWA if the documents they gave us are fake, so that we will know whether to withdraw from applying to NIWA and follow OCHA Brigade