Uluyagbo Residents Decry incessant Quarry Blasts, Demand Government Action.

"Our Walls Are Cracking": Uluyagbo Residents Decry incessant Quarry Blasts, Demand Government Action.

AKURE, NIGERIA – The ground in Uluyagbo community, adjacent Imafon, along Igbatoro road is shaking, and so is the residents' sense of security. A powerful blast from a nearby quarry, operated by Dortmund and Company, ripped through the neighborhood at approximately 5:40 PM yesterday 2nd August, 2025, shattering the weekend peace and causing yet more damage to homes already scarred by previous explosions.

For months, the people of this community in Akure North have lived with the unsettling reality of these operations. The latest incident is the breaking point in a long-simmering crisis, prompting a unified and desperate plea for government intervention.

"We are living in perpetual fear," one resident stated, pointing to a fresh network of cracks on his wall. "Every time a blast goes off, our houses shake violently. We worry that one day, our homes will just collapse on us."

This fear is etched onto the very structures of the community. Homes throughout Uluyagbo display visible signs of damage, from cracked foundations to shattered roof tiles. Residents claim their appeals to Dortmund and Company for compensation and safer practices have been met with silence or inadequate measures.

The recent blast, which occurred when most families were home, has intensified the community's anger. Retired police officer DSP Aliu Usman, a witness to the event, called it a "mere disregard for people's feelings and an attempt to impose undue suffering on the poor masses." He added, "Forcing people to vacate their houses for personal business is a complete abuse of human rights."

Mr. Odimayo, whose roof was damaged in a previous blast on June 18th, found more of his property destroyed upon returning home yesterday evening. "The issue is becoming unbearable," he said over the phone. "Yesterday, we all had to move out of our houses to a safer place. On returning, we found a new level of destruction. Attempts to reach the company was fruitless."

Community leaders argue that the problem lies with the company's methods. Mr. Rasaq Adetola, a street chairman, believes Dortmund and Company is using "antiquated and dangerous technology."

"Modern quarrying allows for more controlled explosions," Mr. Adetola explained. "Their refusal to upgrade shows a blatant disregard for the safety and well-being of this community. This is not a suitable location for such high-impact industrial activity."

The Uluyagbo community is now formally demanding that the Ondo State Government and federal ministries of environment and mines launch a full investigation into the company's operations. Their ultimate goal is the relocation of the blasting site away from their homes.

"We are not against business," concluded Mr. Adetola, "but it cannot come at the cost of our lives and properties. We are appealing to the authorities to intervene before a major disaster occurs."