Outrage in Ebonyi as soldiers allegedly kill two at mining site

There was outrage in Ihetutu, Ishiagu community, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, on Sunday following the alleged killing of two youths by soldiers attached to a mining company.

The victims were identified as Chibuike Elema, 18, and Obinna Joshua, 19.

They were allegedly shot dead at about midday on Sunday at a mining site operated by Palladium Mining Company after reportedly refusing to give money to the soldiers stationed at the facility to provide security.

The incident sparked tension in the community as residents, particularly women and community leaders, demanded a thorough investigation into the killings and an end to what they described as the harsh treatment of their children by the mining company and security personnel.

When Tribune Online visited the community on Sunday evening, the atmosphere was one of grief and tension.

Mr Donatus Okoro, father of Chibuike Elema, said his son was invited from home on Sunday morning to join other workers at the mining site.

He said eyewitnesses told him that the youths were returning from work when soldiers attached to Palladium Mining Company allegedly asked them to part with money.

He alleged that the soldiers opened fire after the youths said they had no money to give.

“My son was called from the house this morning to come and join them for Sunday work. While coming back along the road, according to people who witnessed what happened, the soldiers attached to a mining company called Palladium asked them to settle them. But they told the soldiers that they were not with anything. The soldiers raised their guns and shot them in the head,” Okoro alleged.

He called on the Ebonyi State Government to investigate the incident and ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.

The second victim, Obinna Joshua, was identified as the son of the serving councillor representing Ihetutu community in Ivo Local Government Area. He was said to be a second-year undergraduate.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Ihetutu Community Development Union, Prince Fabian Chukwu, condemned the killings, describing them as unacceptable.

“We are not happy. For a miner working in our community to authorise security personnel to kill our youths is something we cannot accept,” Chukwu said.

“Even if the youths had come to take anything from the company, the appropriate thing would have been to arrest them and hand them over to the police, not to kill them,” he added.

Chukwu said Palladium had operated in the area for over five years, initially as a technical partner to another mining firm before taking over its operations.

He alleged that the company, owned by Victor Nwokeji, displaced its partner, Gexpam Mining Company, in a lead-zinc concession originally owned by Gexpam at Ihetutu.

According to him, Palladium is currently operating the site as Ambertone Logistics Limited, another arm of the company. He said tension between the community and the firm became more pronounced after the change in ownership.

He appealed to the state government to intervene urgently to prevent an escalation of tensions and urged the bereaved families to remain calm.

Also speaking, Mrs Eze Ifeyinwa, former secretary of the Women’s Wing of Ihetutu Community Development Union, accused the mining company and security personnel of treating residents unfairly.

“They are treating our children as if they are thieves. We want them to go. The government should stop both the mining company and the army from operating in Ihetutu. They are treating us like slaves,” she said.

Ifeyinwa questioned what offence the youths had committed by going to the site on Sunday, noting that it was a normal working day for male miners.

“What crime have these children committed by going to the site today? Men work on Sundays; it is only women who do not go to the mining site on Sundays,” she said.

Residents have called on the Ebonyi State Government and relevant security authorities to conduct an impartial investigation and ensure that anyone found culpable is held accountable.