By Orlin Milinov
Tension has enveloped the Orisunmibare community in the Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State following the death of a 25-year-old man, Abiodun Alarape, who was reportedly killed during a quarry blast allegedly conducted by Sequoia Mining Company Limited at the Akilapa area, beside Rochas School, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The incident, which occurred about two weeks ago, has sparked outrage among residents, who accused the company—believed to be Chinese-owned—of endangering lives and property through frequent blasting operations.
Eyewitnesses said flying rocks from the blast struck the young man, who worked at a nearby factory, killing him instantly.
The community has since been gripped by anger and fear, as residents alleged that the quarry’s operations have caused structural damage to buildings, exposed them to health hazards, and created constant panic.
On Monday, protesters carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Stop the killing,” “No more blasting,” “We are not slaves,” and “Quarry must go” stormed the company’s entrance, demanding its immediate closure and evacuation from the area.
Speaking during the protest, the Coordinator of the Orisunmibare Community Development Forum, Mr. Ayo Akinyemi, said the company’s activities had turned the area into a danger zone.
“We are facing a serious environmental and safety crisis. Just last week, they carried out a blast that sent rocks flying everywhere. One of them hit a young man and killed him on the spot. Our houses are cracking, roofs are collapsing, and the ground shakes like an earthquake whenever they blast,” he said.
Akinyemi said several complaints had been made to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and other authorities, but no firm action had been taken.
“Even the state government has an ongoing project near here. If one of their workers had been hit, we know action would have been swift. Enough is enough; this quarry must go,” he added.
Another community leader, Mr. Abiodun Akanji, criticised the company for continuing operations a day after the incident, describing it as a “clear disregard for human life.”
“My house has been damaged three times because of their blasting. We have evidence and photos. Despite that young man’s death, they resumed work the next day. That shows total disrespect for people’s lives,” he said.
Also speaking, Mrs. Olufadeke Akinyemi said the issue was not about compensation but about the safety of families in the area.
“We are not asking for money; we are asking for safety. Our homes are collapsing, and our children are at risk. We’ve complained repeatedly, yet nothing has changed. The government must act before another tragedy occurs,” she said.
Officials of NESREA later visited the site to assess the situation. Mrs. Mojisola Adeoye, the Assistant Chief Environmental Health Officer for the Oyo State Field Office, who represented the State Coordinator, Mr. Toyin Obagiri, confirmed that a stop-work order had been issued to the company pending investigation.
“We received reports that a quarry blast led to a fatality, and we immediately issued a verbal stop-work order, which the company has complied with. We are here to meet with all concerned parties and conduct a full investigation,” Adeoye said.
Responding, the Administrative Officer of Sequoia Mining Company Limited, Mr. Akinola Sanusi, described the death as an unfortunate accident and expressed condolences to the deceased’s family.
“It was an unfortunate accident, and we sympathise deeply with the family of the late Abiodun Alarape. The deceased was not a resident of the community but worked in the area. We will ensure the proper steps are taken,” he stated.
Sanusi dismissed claims of widespread damage to buildings, saying only one house had previously been affected and that the issue was investigated.
“Government officials inspected the affected structure and discovered that the materials used were substandard,” he noted.
Meanwhile, a union leader at the company where the deceased worked, Mr. Oluwagbemiga Ariyo Oyeleke, said the quarry firm had reached a settlement with the victim’s family.
Despite this, residents have renewed their appeal to the Federal and Oyo State Governments to permanently shut down the quarry, insisting that its continued operation poses serious risks to lives and property in the community.
