The people of Amejo and Okolo Communities in Okpukwu Local government area of Benue State have cried out over alleged contamination of their streams by Dangote Coal minin activities in the area.
Some leaders of the communities made this known to the Commissioner for Lands Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals Mr Bernard Unenge during a visit to the area.
A former Senate President, Senator Ameh Ebute stated that the activities of the mining company which started excavation work in the area two months ago led to the pollution of the streams, saying that complaints by Okolo, Amejo, Okete and Okpasu communities have so far fallen on deaf ears.
A representative of Amejo community, Mr Ameh Abuka said the situation has forced them to spend their lean resources on buying water for their domestic use.
Speaking with Radio Nigeria after inspecting the Effa River and ongoing work at the mining site, the Benue State Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals Mr Bernard Unenge directed that water samples be taken from the river for laboratory analysis.
The Commissioner urged management of Dangote coal Mine to look into the allegations with a view to addressing them for the safety of the people.
Mr Unenge also directed the company to ensure total compliance with the terms of agreement reached with the state government and the Effeche community in Okpukwu and that of Odoba in Ogbadibo local government while calling for intervention in the areas of job creation,education,road construction and provision of water for the people.
The General manager Special Duties Mr Nuhu Eluja and that of Mining Engineer Dillip Taman said as part of the measures to mitigate the suffering of the people, they source water from a neighboring stream to supply to residents of Okolo community where it was discovered that mining water from the coal Mine seeped into the stream in the area to contaminate the water.
Mr Eluja said other measures have been put in place to forestall future occurrence, adding that the company was committed to ensuring that it complies with best environmental practices and other developmental agreements reached with the state government and the host communities.
Our correspondent who visited some of the affected streams which are the major sources of water for the people, reports that the water was muddy and looking unhygienic.