Again, Uluyagbo Community Cries Out Over Blasting Operations, Demands Government Intervention.
Ondo State, NIGERIA – Residents of the Uluyagbo community in the Akure North local government of Ondo State are raising alarms over the continued blasting operations by Dortmund and Company, a construction firm whose activities they claim are causing significant disruption and property damage.
The community is now urgently calling on state and federal authorities to investigate the company’s practices and consider relocating the blasting site to prevent a potential catastrophe.
The latest source of distress occurred yesterday, Saturday the 2nd of August, 2025 at around 5:40pm, when a powerful blast from the company’s quarry sent shockwaves through the neighborhood, reigniting fears and frustrations that have been simmering for months.
For the inhabitants of Uluyagbo community, the tremors are becoming a daily reality, shaking the foundations of their homes and their sense of security. The blasting, which residents say occurs at odd hours of the weekend when almost all families are at home, disrupts sleep, terrifies children, and has created an environment of constant anxiety.
“We are living in perpetual fear,” stated one long-time resident. “Every time a blast goes off, our houses shake violently. We see new cracks appearing on our walls, and we worry that one day, our homes will just collapse on us.”
This fear is not unfounded. Numerous properties throughout the community bear the scars of the company’s operations. Walls are riddled with cracks, roofs have been shattered, and some structures show visible signs of foundation damage. Residents complain that previous appeals to Dortmund and Company for compensation have been largely ignored or met with inadequate responses, deepening their frustration.
The recent blast particularly witnessed by a retired police officer, DSP Aliu Usman described the incident as a mere disregard for people’s feelings and attempts to impose undue sufferings on poor masses. The retired officer expressed his shock and anger.
“The company must be held accountable for their recklessness within this community, they should know that forcing people to vacate their houses because of their personal business is completely an abuse of human right.”
Community leaders have been vocal in their criticism of the company’s methods. Mr Rasaq Adetola, the chairman of one of the affected street, voiced his concerns about what he describes as outdated and dangerous technology being used by the firm.
“Dortmund and Company appears to be using antiquated methods for their blasting,” Mr Rasq explained. “Modern quarrying technology allows for more controlled and less impactful explosions. Their refusal to upgrade their equipment shows a blatant disregard for the safety and well-being of this community. This is not a suitable location for such a high-impact industrial activity.”
When contacted on the phone, Mr Odimayo, whose house’s roof tiles and other property showed visible wreckage in the last activity said the issue is becoming unbearable. “Yesterday, all of us the neighborhood have to move out of our houses to a far, safer place to avoid issues. On returning home afterwards, another level of destruction has occurred.
I wished you would come around and see it yourself. The destruction caused at the June 18th has not been remediated, and the unfortunate thing is that attempt to reach them immediately yesterday proved abortive, Mr Odimayo responded.
The sentiment is clear and unanimous among the residents: enough is enough. The Uluyagbo community is collectively demanding immediate action from the Ondo State Government and relevant federal agencies, including the ministries of environment and mines. Their primary demands are a thorough and impartial investigation into Dortmund and Company’s operations and, ultimately, the relocation of the blasting site to an area far from residential settlements.
“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. We need them to investigate this company and, for the sake of our safety, move this quarry.”
As the community waits for an official response, the ground beneath Uluyagbo continues to tremble, a constant and unsettling reminder of the precarious situation they face.
