Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A community in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has threatened legal action over alleged destruction of farmlands and economic trees linked to mining activities by Greenfield Metals Limited.
The Amalokpa Development Association (ADA), representing residents and landowners of Amalokpa Amaonye Village, said it was prepared to pursue legal remedies if the dispute over the company’s mining activities and alleged destruction of community assets was not resolved.
The community had earlier petitioned the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), accusing Greenfield Metals Limited and its chief executive, Chief Henry Ahanotu, of engaging in alleged unauthorised mining activities on land claimed by local landowners.
In the petition dated July 25, 2026, the community alleged that mining activities had resulted in the destruction of economic trees, cassava farms, rice fields and other crops, which it valued at more than ₦3 billion.
The residents also alleged that the mining interests covering the disputed land were obtained without the consent of the affected landowners.
According to the community, it discovered that some of the mining licences connected to the disputed area had expired in 2024 and alleged that the company subsequently returned to the site despite objections from residents.
The community therefore asked the NSCDC Mining Marshal to investigate the matter and halt mining activities on the disputed land pending resolution of the controversy.
It also demanded ₦3 billion compensation for the alleged destruction of farms, economic trees and other properties.
The community’s position was reiterated in August when its leaders appeared before journalists in Abuja and appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in the dispute.
They alleged that mining activities involving lead and zinc had affected economic trees, cassava and rice farms and water sources in the area. The community also raised allegations of intimidation and attacks against residents who opposed the activities. Those claims have not been independently established.
The dispute is not entirely new. Records from the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development’s Mining Cadastre Office show that complaints concerning Greenfield Metals and the Ekubara farmland have previously been recorded, with the matter listed as involving litigation or a court case.
There are also competing accounts within the community.
In February 2026, another group of residents of Amaonye publicly expressed support for Greenfield Metals, describing allegations against the company as part of a dispute involving rival mining interests. The group said the company had secured community consent and had undertaken projects including solar streetlights and road construction.
This means the claims of the Amalokpa Development Association are contested and have not been established by a court.
The controversy has nevertheless attracted the attention of government authorities. In April 2026, the Ebonyi State House of Assembly Committee on Solid Mineral Development raised concerns over mining activities by Greenfield Metals at Ihetutu and questioned whether the company had all the required regulatory documents, including environmental and community development documentation.
The community has maintained that it is not opposed to legitimate mining but wants any operation on its ancestral land to comply with applicable laws, respect landowners’ rights and provide appropriate compensation for any verified damage.
The dispute is now expected to be closely watched as the community considers further legal action and government agencies examine the competing claims surrounding the mining operation.
Greenfield Metals and its representatives have previously rejected allegations that the company operates unlawfully and have maintained that it has community support.
The allegations concerning destruction of economic trees, the value of the claimed losses and the legality of the disputed mining activities remain subject to investigation and determination by the appropriate authorities or courts.
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