The Attah of Agoi Ibami in Yakurr LGA, Cross River State, Michael Onun, has expressed deep concerns over his safety and that of his people due to the overwhelming presence of illegal miners in his community.
In an exclusive interview, the traditional ruler alleged that since the discovery of gold and other precious minerals, his community has been flooded with thousands of strangers, including minors, all seeking access to the valuable resources.
He clarified that while he had given consent to a few licensed miners—who never utilised the approval—the majority of those mining in the area are unauthorised.
“Thousands of people I do not know have been flocking into Agoi Ekpo over the past months without any authorisation. They are in the bushes, mining illegally.
“There’s one Sulaiman Isa who seems to be at the forefront. I don’t know him, but he appears to be very powerful,” Onun stated.
Despite reporting the situation to federal and state mining offices, as well as the Nigeria Immigration Service and security agencies, the traditional ruler lamented that no action has been taken.

“We need security agencies to act fast. These illegal miners must be told clearly that they cannot undermine the authorities—they should follow due process.”
A community leader from the neighbouring Nko community, Fred Okoi Otosi, also raised concerns about the sheer scale of illegal mining activities in the area.
“As we speak, there are more than 10,000 illegal miners inside the Agoi Ekpo forest.
“This is not just a matter for security operatives alone—it requires collaboration between community youth groups and local government authorities to evacuate these people from the bushes.
“Every morning, the entire Ikom-Calabar federal road, from the slaughter to the mining site, is littered with thousands of these men.”
Otosi revealed that while a few individuals hold mining licenses, many of them exploit the system by collecting money and allowing unlicensed miners to flood the sites.
“There is no hotel in Ugep, a major town in Yakurr LGA, where these miners are not lodging.
“The five-day ultimatum given by the state security adviser, Gen. Obono Ubi, for them to vacate the forests was only partially obeyed. Many of them remained hidden in the bush—perhaps even more than those who left.”
He added that he had previously raised an alarm about the influx of illegal miners but was dismissed as making “social media noise.”
Otosi called for urgent security intervention, warning that saboteurs within the system are aiding and profiting from the illegal mining activities at the expense of the community.