Hundreds of local and migrant miners in Jere local government area of Kaduna dig deep sometimes as far as 15 metres underground, with little more than determination and homemade shovels. With no protective gear and barely any supervision, they mine not just for minerals but for survival.
“For miners, each shovel of earth carries the weight of survival,” Trust TV reports. “With no protective gear and pits plugging as deep as 15m, they walk under hazardous conditions, driven by the urgent need to make ends meet.”
Most of these artisanal miners see mining as the only viable option in the absence of employment. “I am doing this to avoid begging or engaging in activities that are unbecoming of a woman. I am truly happy and grateful to God as this is our means of survival,” a female miner told reporters.
While the miners work under dangerous conditions, some say they are at least aware of the risks involved. “We have a person that used to give us orientation pertaining to the dangers with mining,” another worker shared.
Ali Zubairu, Secretary of the Jere Emirate Council, affirmed that while the community welcomes both local and migrant miners, all mining activity must follow legal procedures. “The community embraces both local and migrant miners but insists that all operations must follow legal regulatory frameworks,” he said.
He further added that the council promptly informed authorities of the mining operations. “We immediately reported this matter to the Mining Cadastral Office, Zonal Mining Office in Kaduna, and also to the State Mining Development Company. They have since visited the site.”
The Zonal Mining Coordinator who inspected the site acknowledged the informal nature of the activity: “There is no company here. It’s not a big company. It is just people—farmers, pen farmers—using their hands and horses to excavate the sand, wash it and remove whatever is needed.”
Despite the informal setup, community leaders like Village Head Yusuf Suleiman and Abdul Karim Suleiman see hope in the rush. “Joblessness is on the decline as more people, young and old, find ways to earn a living. It’s minor mining, but it helps the poor, the needy. It helps the youth a lot,” they stated.
Investigation reveals that only a few groups operate with formal mining licenses in the area, raising questions about regulation and enforcement. While the Kaduna State Mining Development Company (KMDC) is tasked with overseeing mining activities, the surge of unregulated excavation has sparked fresh concern for safety, legal compliance, and environmental impact.
