Chairman of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Imo State chapter, Prince Ugochukwu Onyenwenwa, has expressed worry over illegal mining activities in the state, which according to him, may cause an environmental disaster, if not urgently stopped.

     He also raised the alarm over alleged threats to his life by some elements, who, he said, are against his determination to sanitize the industry and reposition same for the greater benefit of the state. Onyenwenwa stated this while reacting to the outcry by leaders of Nekede, Egbeada, Ihiagwa, and Irene communities in Owerri West Council of the state, over the situation, which, they said, has not only affected their socio-economic lives but also claimed the lives of their people. Onyenwenwa revealed that illegal mining activity has also provoked serious environmental challenges such as gully erosion and heavy flooding during rains in the affected areas.

He said, “Areas like Umukoto, in Nekede Free Zone, at the back of old mechanics village in Aba road, Egbeada axis, behind Egbeada popular market, Umuezuriokam and Mbuoke, in Ihiagwa, are completely devastated because of illegal mining activities.”He appealed to Uzodimma and relevant authorities to intervene in the situation to save the state from imminent environmental collapse and continued loss of lives. On the alleged threat to his life, Onyenwenwa urged security agencies to speed up the investigation, following his petition on the matter already before them, and arrest perpetrators.