The Rikkos Community located along Lamingo road in Jos North Local Government of Plateau State are now leaving in Palpable tension, fear and apprehension as a result of reported harassment, intimidation meted on them by a mining compan ‘Elipse Nigeria Limited’.
Members of the community have revealed that the company owned by one Mr Denzel Henry Akogwu has practically laid siege against the Rikkos Community who have been living peacefully with each other until the company came with what can be described as war of rascality.
The Rikkos Community made the passionate call to the Governor Caleb Mutfwang in a statement dated 18th Oct 2023 and made available to journalists in Jos, the state capital.
The statement said the Chief Executive Officer of the Company Denzel Henry threatened to use his financial advantage to ensure that the Community are punish for dare to Challenge him over the location of the company.
It was noted that before the coming of Elipse Nigeria Limited in the area, three companies in the like of Ade Bakery Industry Limited, Alasar Nigeria Limited and Wakema Nigeria, had been operating peacefully on the same facility.
It was also noted that Alsar one of the company in the community had been operating in the for over two decades without any reported violence, misconduct, intimidation or harassment against the host community.
It was further narrated that the current violence, intimidation started immediately Elipse came to the community using force and illegal expansion that is affecting public amenities such as the road network within the community.
It was also stressed that the members of the community are currently helpless as Denzel had invaded the Community severally with heavily Armed men as his continue part of intimidation and harassment as all efforts to call Danzel to order proved abortive.
It was against this backdrop, the statement said the community wrote petition to the Member Representing Jos North North State Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly in order to investigate the alleged atrocities and harassment of the community.
They complained that the company has blocked the main road and fenced it, and mounted gate fence which has make uneasy for motorists, because it’s just by a T- junction which makes it vulnerable to accidents.
“We have written Petition to the various authorities for an intervention dated 1st September 2023 expressing our concern and the way forward between the host community and Elipse Nigeria Limited for peaceful coexistence”.
“The relevant authorities where copied with the copy of the petition they includes Speaker of the State House of Assembly, plateau state Commissioner of Police, Director, DSS, Human Rights Commission North Central office,Jos”.
“Others are the Royal Father Ada Gwom Jos Izere, Member Representing Jos North West Constituency,Jos East Constituency, State Chairman,Plateau Youth Council (PYC), among others”.
“The State CID, the Chairman House Committee on Petition, Hon. Isah Madaki Ajiji had all swung into actions by engaging the petitioners in series of meetings while insisting that the petition be withdrawn without minding whether Elipse and Denzel Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) one of the agency the petition wrote against, have responded or not”.
In view of these, the community is still holding fast to their stance for the need to interface with the C.O.E and sign an M.O.U on the Execution and Implementation of his organization’s Corporation Social Responsibilities (CSR) as a part of global best practices as it is also explicitly contained in the Petition.
The Community is appealing to the State Government and all other relevant authorities to prevail on Denzel to see the need for dialogue that will lead to peaceful resolution of the impasse between his organization and the host Community.
They called on Governor Caleb Mutfwang to intervene on the matter as the state can’t afford to be thrown into another phase of crisis because of some Persons who never meant well for the state.
They lamented the health hazard associated with Mining especially within the residential area which expose the Community to epidemics and other cancerous substances.
The community appealed to the state government to advice the Elipse company to put in place all safety measures or standards in the Community to prevent possible outbreak of the unfathomable towards the environment. Noting that no business strives under the atmosphere of violence and crisis therefore Elipse Nigeria limited and Mr. Denzel to do the needful in order to forestall any eventual breakdown of peace and order.
Nigeria Star News 