Outrage in Ibadan community over fatal quarry blast

By Adejayan Gbenga –

Tension rose in the Orisunmibare community of Oluyole Local Government Area, Oyo State, on Monday as angry residents protested against Sequoia Mining Company Limited following the death of a 25-year-old man, Abiodun Alarape. The young man was reportedly killed during a quarry blast allegedly carried out by the company.

The protesters, wielding placards with inscriptions such as “Stop the killing,” “No more blasting,” and “Quarry must go,” barricaded the entrance to the site, demanding the immediate shutdown of the company. They accused the operators of negligence and disregard for human lives.

Chanting solidarity songs, the demonstrators alleged that frequent blasting activities by the quarry had endangered lives and caused severe structural damage to homes in the area.

Leading the protest, the Coordinator of the Orisunmibare Community Development Forum, Mr. Ayo Akinyemi, said the community could no longer endure what he described as “daily terror” from the quarry’s operations. He said Alarape’s death was the final straw, accusing the company of gross insensitivity.

Akinyemi also alleged that both the company and regulatory agencies had ignored multiple complaints, adding that the community had written several petitions to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) without any meaningful response.

“If this had happened to government workers nearby, there would have been immediate action. Enough is enough; this quarry must go before more lives are lost,” he declared.

In response, the Assistant Chief Environmental Health Officer for the Oyo State Field Office, Mrs. Mojisola Adeoye, said the agency had begun a full assessment to determine the extent of environmental and operational violations.

The company’s Administrative Officer, Mr. Akinola Sanusi, described the incident as an unfortunate accident and expressed sympathy with the deceased’s family, pledging full cooperation with authorities. Meanwhile, residents vowed to continue their protest until the quarry is permanently shut down as security operatives maintained surveillance over the tense atmosphere.