Videos of the protest obtained by SaharaReporters showed the aggrieved youths blocking the major entrance road into the community while demanding the release of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the community and the mining company.
Some youths from Ugboba community in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest against alleged illegal coal mining activities, accusing a firm, Mosra Energy Limited, of destroying their environment for over three years.
Videos of the protest obtained by SaharaReporters showed the aggrieved youths blocking the major entrance road into the community while demanding the release of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the community and the mining company.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as, “End coal community lies,” “Say no to lack of accountability. Everyone is important in Ugboba Community,” and “Ugboba Youths Demand: Show us the MoU.”
Other placards read, “We demand accountability from our leaders,” “Immediate removal of our President General now!” and “No transparency, No trust! Our land, our right, our future! Ugboba youths demand justice!”
The youths accused the community leadership of compromise and lack of transparency, alleging that the mining activities were being carried out without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
They also called for the immediate removal of the President General, Mr. Ikose Nnabuife, whom they accused of holding office for nearly two decades amid allegations of corruption and poor leadership.
Sources within the community said the protest began with traditional prayers, as the youths sought what they described as liberation from the influence of community leaders.
The protest comes amid growing tension in the community following an open letter by a human rights activist and Abuja-based businessman, Anthony Ugochukwu Anamonye, who called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene in the crisis.
Anamonye alleged that the situation in Ugboba was being orchestrated by a firm reportedly linked to the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, while accusing the traditional ruler, Ezedimbu Nkebakwu, of working with security agencies to intimidate residents into silence.
According to community sources, residents have long questioned the absence of a formal agreement governing the mining activities and the alleged diversion of benefits to neighbouring communities.
“They have taken us for granted for too long. We want answers now,” one of the sources said, adding that the traditional ruler and the President General must address the community directly.
In the protest video, a youth leader accused both the government and the company of neglecting the welfare of residents.
“For three years now, coal mining is going on in our community with attendant environmental degradation. Our farmlands have been destroyed and we didn’t have MoU with the mining company,” he said.
“Even if the Federal Government gave the firm a mining licence, the government didn’t tell the company to come and destroy our environment and our farmlands where we depend on for survival.
“We want to see the MoU between Mosra Energy Limited and our community. It is our right to know. Secondly, we need accountability. If our demands are not met, this protest will continue,” he added.
The protest follows earlier reports by SaharaReporters on October 16, 2025, about a devastating landslide in the community, which residents attributed to the alleged illegal mining activities of Mosra Energy Limited.
The landslide reportedly destroyed farmlands, polluted water sources, and rendered major roads, including the Ukwu-Nzu–Ugboba road, impassable.
Residents said the environmental impact has left the agrarian community struggling to survive.
“We are shocked and devastated by the landslide, which has destroyed our farmlands, polluted our water sources, and rendered our roads impassable,” a resident, Simon Eka, had told SaharaReporters then.
“We demand that Mosra Energy Limited take immediate action to address the environmental damage and compensate us for our losses,” he added.
Other residents accused the traditional ruler of colluding with the mining company despite the devastating consequences on the community.
“We urge our traditional ruler to stop this senseless mining that has subjected us to hardship, loss of farmland, aquatic life, and risks to human lives,” another resident, Ephraim Odah, said.
A community leader, Kingsley Eka, also called for government intervention.
“We need the government to step in and stop this illegal mining. We want to live in a safe and healthy environment, and we will not rest until our rights are protected,” he said.
The people of Ugboba have continued to demand urgent intervention, warning that the alleged illegal mining activities pose a serious threat to their livelihoods and the environment.
WATCH: Delta Youths Block Road To Protest Environmental Damage, Accuse Mining Firm Of Illegal Coal Operations pic.twitter.com/1s1eKq1iHY
