Residents of Sanyang have chased away sand miners from the privately owned Unity Mining Company over an ongoing mining disputes in the village.

Members of the Sanyang Village Development Committee (VDC) have alleged that there were widespread illegal sand mining in the area without any formal agreement with residents.

Lamin Bojang, chairman of the VDC, said that there was no formal agreement between the villagers and the Unity Mining Company after the previous agreement lapsed in 2018.

Bojang acknowledged that natural resources in the village were under the authority of the government but added that the community also reserved the right to negotiate with any individual or company engaging in a business activity such as sand mining that would have an adverse effect on the villagers.

“What is more unfortunate is that the company has already mined an area of 700 meters into the community’s territory without even respecting the demarcated boundary between Sanyang, Gunjur and Sambuya.

“I can tell you that even the daily fees collected in illegal mining in the area are not being paid to the community but instead to the neighbouring village,” Bojang told The Point newspaper.

However the manager of the Unity Mining Company, Buba Bojang, had disputed the villagers allegations pointing out that his company was issued a licence by the Geology Department to engage in sand mining activities in the area called Howba which was closed by residents citing some irregularities.

He said he was told of the protest after his miners were refused access to the mine and chased away.

“I don’t know how this could happen because there was a task force committee set up with the responsibility of monitoring the communities’ mining borders. So what I can say for now is we are going to strictly look into the issue to avoid any unforeseen mining activities.”