Miners contaminate our water, we are left without care- Bole community
By Ojoma Yusuf,Yola
Residents of Bole, a remote community located just a few miles from Yola South Local Government Area, have raised serious concerns over environmental and infrastructural neglect following recent floods and ongoing mining activities in the area.
The community, particularly Ward 3, has been severely affected by recent flooding, which residents say has left them without basic social amenities, including potable water, electricity, health care facilities, and motorable roads.
Speaking to journalists, the Hakimi of Bole/Yolde Pate, Alhaji Mohammedu Jingi, expressed deep concerns over the situation, stating that while there is a dam nearby, residents live in constant fear of it overflowing or breaking, which could lead to even more devastating floods.
“We were told that water was released from the dam in small quantities to prevent it from breaking, but the impact on our community was still enormous,” he said. “Five wards including Bole, Sabon Pegi, Tashan Sani, and Bodire were affected. Our farmlands were destroyed, livestock died, and lives were lost.”
Alhaji Jingi called on both the state and federal governments to take proactive steps in managing the dam and protecting surrounding communities. He also urged authorities to consult experts in solid mineral development to assess the impact of nearby mining activities on local environments.
Community members allege that mining operations, particularly in neighboring Fufore LGA, are contributing to the crisis. According to residents, chemical waste from mining operations flows into rivers used by the people of Bole for drinking, farming, and daily life.
“The mining company operates in Fufore, but we suffer the consequences here in Yola South,” said a local resident who requested anonymity. “The water that flows downstream is contaminated. Our children are getting sick, and our crops are failing.”
While the presence of Chinese miners is not opposed by locals, there is frustration over the lack of benefits or development provided to the host communities.
“We are blessed with resources that attracted the miners, and they are here legally,” another resident stated. “But in return, we should have been provided with basic amenities. We have no electricity, no hospitals, no clean water, not even solar streetlights. Our river is our only source of water, and now it’s polluted.”
An anonymous miner from Bole working with the Chinese company echoed the community’s concerns.
“We are not unhappy that our land has minerals. But we are disappointed that the government has abandoned us. We work hard to provide for our families, but we are pleading for development in our community,” he said.
Alhaji Jingi also called on the youth to remain calm and law-abiding while awaiting government intervention.
“The safety of our people must be a priority,” he said. “The miners should be required to properly treat and dispose of chemical waste to avoid further contamination. Too many lives have been lost already.”
Residents of Bole Ward 3 are appealing for immediate government intervention to address the water contamination, rebuild infrastructure, and provide essential services.
“No community can thrive without social amenities,” a local elder noted. “We are not asking for too much—just the basics we need to survive.”
The state and federal governments have been urged to conduct thorough assessments of the environmental and public health impact of mining activities in the area, and to invest in lasting infrastructure to support affected communities
