Amatu Raises Fresh Alarm Over Black Sand Mining In Disputed Agholiyo Land By Bilabiri

…Calls For Government Intervention

The leadership of Amatu Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has raised a fresh alarm over the alleged return of indigenes of Bilabiri Community to Agholiyo Community, popularly known as Amatu Ilaje, for black sand mining despite an earlier directive by the Ekeremor Local Government Council asking both parties to stay away from the disputed area.

The development has heightened concerns over the longstanding land dispute between Amatu and Bilabiri communities, with the Amatu leadership alleging that continued activities on the disputed land could further aggravate tensions and threaten the peace and security of the area.

The dispute centres on the ownership of Agholiyo Community, a territory which the people of Amatu maintain is historically and traditionally part of their ancestral land. However, indigenes of Bilabiri have also laid claim to ownership of the area where black sand mining activities are currently being carried out.

The conflicting claims have generated serious disagreements between the two communities and, according to the Amatu leadership, the dispute has previously resulted in violent confrontations and the loss of lives among indigenes.

In an effort to prevent further escalation, the Chairman of Ekeremor Local Government Council, Hon. Onniye Isaac Ziminiyain, Ph.D, recently intervened in the matter by convening a peace meeting involving representatives and stakeholders from both Amatu and Bilabiri communities.

During the meeting held at the Local Government Council Secretariat, the council chairman urged both sides to embrace dialogue, exercise restraint and pursue mutual understanding as a means of resolving the contentious ownership issue.

The chairman also sought clarification from the representatives of the two communities regarding the ownership of the disputed territory.

In response, both the Amatu and Bilabiri delegations maintained their respective claims to ownership of Agholiyo Community, where the controversial black sand mining activities are taking place.

Following the meeting, the council chairman directed both communities to refrain from interfering with or tampering with the disputed land pending further intervention by the Bayelsa State Government.

The directive was intended to create an atmosphere of peace and prevent further confrontation while the appropriate authorities work towards finding a lasting resolution to the dispute. However, the leadership of Amatu Community has expressed concern that the peace arrangement may have been undermined barely a week after the local government council’s intervention.

According to the Amatu leadership, indigenes of Bilabiri allegedly returned to the disputed area to continue black sand mining activities, this time reportedly accompanied by security personnel operating gunboats.

The development, the community said, was particularly disturbing because it allegedly occurred shortly after the local government council chairman had expressly directed both communities to stay away from the disputed territory.

In a statement jointly signed by the CDC Chairman, Mr. Firstboy Job; CDC Secretary, Mr. Joseph Seimode; and Youth President, Mr. Dennis Ebifiegbene, the leadership of Amatu condemned what it described as continued black sand mining activities on the disputed land.

The community leaders argued that allowing mining activities to continue in the area while ownership remains unresolved could further complicate efforts by government and community stakeholders to achieve a peaceful settlement.

They maintained that the dispute should not be allowed to degenerate into another cycle of confrontation, particularly given the history of tension and reported loss of lives associated with the disagreement.

The Amatu leadership has therefore appealed to the Ekeremor Local Government Council Chairman to urgently intervene and ensure compliance with the earlier directive issued at the peace meeting.

The community also called on the Bayelsa State Government and the Federal Government to take immediate steps towards resolving the ownership dispute and preventing further escalation.

According to the community leaders, a comprehensive intervention by the relevant authorities is necessary to establish the legitimate ownership and territorial status of Agholiyo Community and provide a lasting solution acceptable to all parties.

While condemning the assault of Amatu Illaje indigenes during the recent unauthorized illegal black sand mining operation, they further called for the withdrawal of the security personnel and gunboats allegedly deployed around the Bilabiri area in connection with the mining activities.

The Amatu leadership argued that the presence of armed security personnel around the disputed territory could heighten apprehension among residents and potentially create conditions for further confrontation between the communities.

The latest development has once again underscored the need for sustained dialogue and a transparent government-led process to address the historical and territorial claims surrounding Agholiyo community.

With both communities maintaining competing claims to the disputed land, stakeholders are expected to prioritise peace and security while allowing competent government authorities to investigate the historical, traditional and legal claims of the parties.

The Amatu leadership stressed that its position is aimed at protecting the community’s ancestral territory and preventing further conflict, while calling for the dispute to be resolved through lawful and peaceful means.

They urged the Ekeremor Local Government Council, the Bayelsa State Government and the Federal Government to act swiftly before the situation deteriorates.

The community leaders maintained that black sand mining activities should not be allowed to become a trigger for renewed violence, insisting that the disputed area should remain untouched until the ownership question is properly addressed.

They appealed to the people of both communities to remain calm and exercise restraint, stressing that dialogue, respect for constituted authorities and adherence to the council’s directive remain essential to achieving lasting peace.

The Amatu leadership expressed hope that the intervention of higher authorities would provide an enduring solution to the dispute and restore peaceful coexistence between Amatu and Bilabiri communities.