Timadix Geomin Consult Nigeria, a mining company, has expressed deep disappointment over the disruption of its operations and the alleged harassment of its staff by agents of the Nasarawa State Government. The incident occurred at the company’s mining site in Amba Kure, located in the Kokona Local Government Area. The company’s management issued a statement
The Role of Local Communities in Tackling Illegal Mining
Local communities are central to Nigeria’s mining industry but often face significant adverse effects due to illegal mining. While mining activities promise economic benefits, illegal mining exploits resources, harms the environment, and disrupts local livelihoods. These communities, particularly those in mining regions, suffer from the environmental degradation caused by unregulated mining, including deforestation, water pollution,
Gashaka Gumti National Park Strengthens Conservation Efforts Against Illegal Mining and Wildlife Threats
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, has instructed rangers to intensify their crackdown on poachers and illegal miners in Gashaka Gumti National Park, located in Serti, Taraba State. Lawal issued this directive on Wednesday during the commissioning of a new ranger outpost in the park’s northern sector, situated in Tungo Local Government Area of Adamawa
Abandoned Treasures: A Historical Lens on Northern Nigeria’s Gold Mines
Gold mining has for a long time been tied to insecurity in North Western Nigeria. But activities of bandits and illegal miners does not tamper with the rich deposits that are found in the area albeit chipping away copious amounts of it. Understanding the background of Gold mining in Nigeria proves valuable in the course
CAPPA Urges Nigerian Government to Crack Down on Illegal Mining and Improve Safety Measures
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on Nigerian authorities to implement stricter regulations on illegal mining, aiming to prevent further tragedies like the recent collapse of a mining pit in the Gashaka-Gumti National Park, which left around 30 miners presumed dead. CAPPA highlighted the grave risks facing impoverished locals who engage in
Kogi Government Orders Suspension of Mining Activities
The Kogi State Government has suspended all mining activities in the state due to the influx of bandits and miscreants involved in several mining-related operations. According to the Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, Bashiru Gegu, the decision to suspend mining activities followed the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Kogi State Governor,
Illegal Mining: Zamfara Government Denies Paying Bandit Leaders 1 Billion Naira
The Governor of Zamfara state has denied any involvement in allegations circulating on social media that suggested it had given large sums of money to some bandit kingpins in exchange for communication within the state. In a Thursday news conference in Gusau, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Abubakar Nakwada declared that the documents “were
Bandits Attack Mining Site in Niger State
A devastating attack on a mining site in Niger State’s Shiroro Local Government Area has left at least 12 people dead and many more feared deceased. Suspected bandits stormed the site in Unguwar Magero village, opening fire indiscriminately and kidnapping numerous individuals. Eyewitnesses report that the bandits descended upon the miners, opening fire indiscriminately. This
From Mines to Mayhem: The Link Between Gold and Banditry in Nigeria
The agrarian landscapes of Northern states, once calm to the lives of farmers, traders, passers, visitors and herders, have morphed into a dystopian tableau of violence and greed. At the heart of this transformation lies the glittering menace of gold. Before the spike in the nefarious activities of bandits, local mining, although hazardous due to
Bandits Frustrate Rescue Operations for Trapped Miners After Mine Collapse
Rescue efforts for approximately 30 artisanal miners trapped in a collapsed mining pit in Niger state, Nigeria, have been hindered by threats from armed bandits. The incident occurred on Sunday in the village of Galkogo, Shiroro district, where the miners were working for a local company. Abdullahi Baba Ara, head of the Niger State Relief