By Mohamed Vandi in Kenema
Six people are reported to have died in a dangerous illicit mining being done in Njama and Suluma villages in the Penguya Chiefdom, Kailahun District, eastern Sierra Leone.
Police superintendent for Area III Kenema Mines Division, Samuel Foday Lahai, told Politico that a huge soil collapsed as a result of the underground mining and fell on and killed the miners on separate occasions between July and August.
“Aiah Yorpoi and Komba Kamanda died on 18 July, 2013 and on 7 August three others Saidu Mustapha, Saidu Kamara and one Emmanuel also died” he said.
The sixth and latest reported death took place on 4 September, involving one Lamin Sesay of Suluwa village, Superintendent Lahai explained.
He said there was possibility that more people died when the mud collapsed but that the number of deaths reported could only be for those they could access and remove from under the rubbles.
He said the mines warden and monitors stationed in that locality had complained several times about illegal mining, claiming that local authorities had refused them access to the sites.
Superintendent Lahai also stated that mines wardens and monitors had complained about drastic reduction in revenue generation because most miners had refused to obtain licenses. He said the miners were being encouraged by town chiefs who pose serious difficulties for wardens, monitors and police in the discharge of their duties.
He said that on the 14 July he travelled to Penguya with the senior mines monitoring officer, Emmanuel Mustapha, to share some of the concerns raised by the wardens and monitors with Paramount Chief Samuel Sheku Gibrilla. The chief promised that corrective measures, by allowing the mines officials to do their job unhindered, would be ensured.
The mines officer said his workers had called and complained that the chiefs were still adamant to allow them access to the mining sites.
“This has become worrisome, especially when we get reports of people dying in the mine,” he said, adding that he’d therefore written a letter to the provincial secretary east and copied the Assistance Inspector General (AIG) of Police east, office of national security, the local unit commander in Kailahun and the civil society informing them about the “unfortunate development”.
AIG east, Sorie Kargbo, confirmed receipt of the letter but said they could not take any action because it was addressed to the provincial secretary.
(C) Politico 17/09/13
