Makeni, 28th May 2016 – The Environment Protection Agency (EPA‑SL) has launched swift enforcement action after a viral video exposed miners operating along the Rokel River during the temporary closure of its weirs for maintenance.
Preliminary investigations revealed that artisanal mining along exposed sections of the riverbed has historically occurred during dam maintenance periods when water levels drop. But this year’s activities raised alarm, with reports confirming the use of excavators — a development that dramatically expanded the scale of operations and heightened environmental risks.
Responding to the footage, the EPA’s Northern Region Team staged a raid earlier this week. Several mining‑related water pumps were destroyed, and one excavator operator was detained and handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department at Makeni’s Mena Police Station for further inquiry.
The agency also engaged local authorities, including the paramount chief and a section chief who chairs the area’s mining committee. They reported that community‑level measures were already underway, including the formation of a joint patrol team comprising personnel from the RSLAF and the Sierra Leone Police. EPA officials noted a visible reduction in excavator presence during their follow‑up visit.
EPA officials stressed that riverbed mining, particularly with heavy machinery, poses grave threats: disrupting river systems, damaging aquatic habitats, increasing sedimentation, altering water flow, undermining energy supply, and endangering communities that depend on the Rokel River for water and livelihoods.
The agency pledged to closely monitor the situation and take further regulatory and enforcement measures as needed. Citizens are urged to support environmental protection efforts by reporting violations nationwide.
