Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) has petitioned the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to launch an immediate investigation into the alleged exploitation of young girls by miners in mining communities in Nasarawa State.
RDI, in a petition sent to the Chairman of the House Committee on the Environment, explained that the exploitation of young girls has been on the increase in Uke district in Karu Local Government Area of the state following the commencement of extraction of gold and lithium there.
The petition reads in part that “we have equally learnt of an alleged flourishing sex slavery and trafficking allegedly perpetrated by mining merchants operating in Abuni who exploit young girls, some as young as 13 years, who are enticed away from their homes with promises of gifts, with negative fallouts now in the community including adolescent pregnancies.”
RDI reported that the exploitation of young girls is being carried out by licensed and illegal miners.
The group also reported that mining activities are polluting the water in the community and endangering the lives of residents.
The petition reads in part that “to worsen an already bad situation, a Chinese mining firm – Multiverse Mining Company is now making the lives of the people a living hell on earth through their reckless extraction of solid minerals outside the approved sites, indiscriminate rock blasting which continues to shake the foundations of the community and the environmentally unsound practice of channeling the wastewater from the mines into farmlands and the Rafin Jaki River where locals fish.
“We learnt that the wastewater channeled to the Rafin Jaki River was responsible for the deaths of nine children in 2023 after they came down with serious and unexplained illnesses after swimming in the water. Every attempt by the community people including the Concerned Awe Youths to get the company to stop their illicit practices has met a brick wall as the company’s officials say they only have dealings with the state government and not the host community.”
RDI, in the petition which was jointly signed by Philip Jakpor, Executive Director of RDI; Barr Chima Williams, Executive Director, Environmental Defenders Network; Comrade Sani Baba, Executive Director of Citizens Free Service Forum, and Dr. Kelechi Okezie, Executive Director, Neighborhood Environment Watch Foundation, demanded an immediate investigation into all reported issues.
The group demanded that the Nasarawa State House of Assembly should “carry out a fact-finding visit to Abuni community with particular attention on the communities around the mining sites and the Rafin Jaki River. Uke district should also be visited.
“Carry out a comprehensive environmental audit of Abuni community, Uke district and environs including their source of water and farm environment; Revoke the mining license of Multiverse Mining Company if the investigation shows a breach of Nigeria’s environmental laws;
“Compel Multiverse Mining Company to take full responsibility for the clean-up and other remediation efforts on the environment in Abuni Community; Compel Multiverse Mining Company to pay compensation to impacted people;
“Halt artisan mining practices that affect the people and environment in Abuni community and Uke district; Carry out proper oversight on mining operations in Abuni, Uke district and other mining communities in Nasarawa State.
“Investigate and scrutinize agreements reached between the mining firms and some unscrupulous traditional rulers who have through their actions put their communities in jeopardy.”