By Rowland Oni.
A fresh wave of tension is brewing in Iluhagba community, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, following a sharp disagreement between residents and Mangal Cement Factory over what locals describe as “years of neglect, broken promises, and betrayal.”
The community, which hosts both the cement plant and a sprawling quarry operated by the company, has accused Mangal Cement of deliberately ignoring its obligations under the Community Development Agreement (CDA) despite occupying more than 200 hectares of land and extracting raw materials daily.
According to residents, the company has failed to provide even the most basic social amenities or compensate affected families whose farmlands and ancestral holdings were taken for industrial use.
“They act as if we don’t exist,” one community elder lamented. “We gave our land for the project in good faith, hoping for development, but what we got instead is silence and disregard.”
Broken Boreholes, Broken Trust
Community sources revealed that the few boreholes earlier provided by the company have long fallen into disrepair, leaving villagers without access to clean water. Many now rely on streams and distant wells, a situation residents describe as both frustrating and demeaning.
“This is not what we were promised,” another resident said. “We expected partnership and progress, but what we have is exploitation right in our backyard.”
Anger After CDA Was Signed with Another Community
The already fragile peace reportedly collapsed when news filtered in that Mangal Cement had signed and begun implementing its CDA with Mopa — a completely different community outside Iluhagba.
“To hear that they were planning development projects in Mopa while ignoring Iluhagba, where the factory and quarry are actually located, was the height of provocation,” a youth leader explained.
The traditional ruler of Iluhagba, visibly angered by the development, was said to have confronted company officials, describing the move as an insult to his people.
“He told them clearly that inviting Iluhagba representatives to witness an agreement with another town was an embarrassment and a slap on the face of our community,” a witness recounted. “That was what broke the peace.”
Land Disputes and Unpaid Compensation
At the heart of the growing discontent are unresolved land disputes and allegations of encroachment. Families whose properties lie within the quarry area claim they have neither been compensated nor formally engaged by the company.
Community leaders insist that until these issues are addressed, there will be no further dialogue or cooperation with Mangal Cement.
Calls for Government Intervention
Local observers say the situation could worsen if government authorities do not step in. The youths, once hopeful that the factory would bring jobs and infrastructure, are now disillusioned.
“We are not against development,” one of them said, “but development should not mean deprivation. All we want is fairness, recognition, and respect for our agreement.”
Peace Efforts Underway
As of press time, local authorities and security agencies were said to be intervening to prevent an escalation of hostilities. Community elders have also called for calm, urging residents to allow peace talks to proceed.
However, many in Iluhagba remain adamant that operations at the factory will not continue smoothly until Mangal Cement returns to the negotiation table and fulfills its obligations to the host community.
