The Cross River State House of Assembly, has ordered the arrest and prosecution of over 1,000 Fulani migrants allegedly engaged in illegal mining of gold in Okwa 1 and Okwa 2 in Ukwango community in Boki LGA, as well as Ifumkpa community in Akamkpa LGA.
The assembly further resolved that while security agencies are deployed to the affected communities to arrest the Fulani miners, advocacy groups should educate community leaders on the negative impacts of illegal mining.
Bette Philip Obi, member representing Boki 1 State Constituency, and Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, sponsored the motion under Matters of Urgent Public Importance. He said the migrants have been carrying out illicit gold mining within the Government Reserved Area (GRA), thereby robbing Boki LGA and the state of its natural resources and revenue.
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He added that the communities are facing a crisis as the influx of the Fulani had exceeded the number of indigenes, causing fear for their lives and property.
