Residents of Tse-Kucha community in the Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State have staged a protest against Dangote Cement Company, alleging neglect amid the adverse effects of limestone dust on the community and its surroundings.
The demonstrators expressed their frustration with the limestone dust and erosion causing significant damage to a substantial part of the community. Armed with placards bearing inscriptions such as “We are a peaceful people and do not envisage a breakdown of law and order,” “Save Tse Kucha from the ravaging limestone dust,” and “We produce the limestone for Dangote Cement and deserve better,” the protesters lamented the untold hardship inflicted on the community due to limestone exploitation.
Organized under the Quarry Families Association in Gboko, the protesters have conveyed that unless concrete measures are taken to address their dire situation, there will be no further cooperation with Dangote Cement’s Gboko Plant.
Reports indicate that last week, families began camping on the outskirts of the limestone quarry at Tse Kucha, near Gboko, in protest of what they perceive as the company’s insensitivity to their predicament.
There are concerns that the initially peaceful protest might escalate into confrontation as the protesters claim to have received warnings from the military to vacate or face maximum force. One protester highlighted that such incidents wouldn’t be unprecedented, citing instances where family members who made way for limestone mining in the area were allegedly targeted by military gunfire.
“We are not afraid. By the way, this won’t be the first time. But most importantly, we are not violent.
“We are only demanding resettlement because the mining is too close to our residential areas.
“Come here during blasting or when work is going on in the factory, you can’t stand the dust that is generated.
“Look at our trees – all covered with dust-, check our water sources and you will realise what we are talking about, all the walls of our homes are cracked because of the impact and reverberation of the everyday blast of limestone by explosives,” he said.
Joseph Orsugh, who was also at the protest told journalists that the company has turned entire families within the area into a set of stingy people as they “no longer eat outside, contrary to the long-standing tradition of eating in the open so that strangers too may partake of it.”
Mary Mkerga, a 60-year-old grandma, said it is better to die than continue to face the associated risks that come with mining in the area such as dust and its effect on human health, crop yield and contamination of water bodies.
She noted that the company has blatantly refused to listen to their concerns and the peaceful protest to push home their demands.
A senior staff of the company, who did not want to be named, told journalists the management of the company would be available for comments after the situation is brought under control.
