KEY POINTS
- Two major gold mining sites in Mayokam were sealed after authorities found severe environmental degradation.
- Residents accused miners of destroying farmland, exploiting local youths and contributing to insecurity and drug abuse.
- The state Mobile Court warned that illegal miners would face prosecution as Taraba steps up enforcement of environmental laws.
The Taraba State Government has sealed two major gold mines sites in Mayokam Community, Bali Local Government Area, following concerns over environmental destruction and alleged violations of the state’s mining and environmental protection regulations.
The affected sites, Gidan Boss and Gidan Star, were closed after an inspection by the state’s Mobile Court, which reportedly observed significant degradation of the surrounding environment.
The enforcement action was carried out under Executive Order No. 5 of 2023, which provides measures for environmental protection, public safety and the prohibition of deforestation across Taraba State.
Authorities said the intervention was intended to protect the environment, preserve the state’s natural resources and safeguard communities hosting mining operations.
Residents of Mayokam welcomed the decision, saying unregulated mining had caused extensive damage to farmland while providing little economic benefit to the communities where the mineral resources were being extracted.
Community leader Zubairu Sumaila said residents had largely been excluded from mining activities despite the operations taking place on their land.
According to him, many of the miners were outsiders who entered the communities to extract gold without adequately involving or compensating the local population.
Sumaila said the closure was a welcome development because the communities had allegedly suffered considerable environmental damage without receiving meaningful benefits from the mining activities.
He called on the state government to extend the enforcement exercise to other mining locations across Taraba to prevent further degradation and ensure that host communities have a greater say in activities involving their natural resources.
Beyond environmental concerns, residents also linked the proliferation of unregulated mining operations to security challenges.
Another resident, Tanko Abu, expressed concern over the presence of miners allegedly arriving from Zamfara, Katsina and Bauchi states, as well as Cameroon.
He argued that the influx of people into remote mining communities could create security risks, particularly if authorities do not properly monitor mining operations and the people involved.
Residents cited the experience of Zamfara, where illegal mining has been repeatedly associated with wider security concerns, as a reason for demanding stricter oversight of mining activities in Taraba.
Abu praised the Mobile Court and the state government for intervening, saying residents were pleased with the decision to shut the affected sites.
Gold mining blamed for land degradation
Hajiya Aisha Jamartu also commended the enforcement exercise, describing the action as long overdue.
She said illegal mining had become a threat to both the communities and the environment, adding that the closure could help protect residents from further damage.
Residents alleged that mining activities had destroyed portions of farmland and degraded land that communities depend on for their livelihoods.
They also claimed that local youths were being exploited, with some allegedly receiving only small payments despite the significant commercial value of the gold extracted from the area.
The residents said the grievances had recently triggered protests by youths who accused miners of exploiting the communities’ mineral resources.
During the inspection, the Mobile Court reportedly received briefings from security personnel deployed to the area.
The security operatives said several miners at the sites were allegedly from outside Taraba, including Zamfara, Katsina and Bauchi states and the Republic of Cameroon.
Following the inspection, the court ordered the immediate sealing of Gidan Boss and Gidan Star and handed the sites over to security agencies to ensure compliance.
The court also reminded residents and mining operators that Executive Order No. 5 of 2023 remains in force.
It warned that anyone found engaging in illegal mining would face prosecution and appropriate punishment if convicted.
The development has renewed calls for tighter regulation of mining activities across Taraba, particularly in communities where gold and other mineral resources are being extracted.
Residents argue that the state must strike a balance between developing its solid-mineral sector and protecting farmland, water sources, forests and the livelihoods of communities.
They also want greater participation by host communities in mining operations and a clearer system for ensuring that local residents benefit from the resources found on their land.
For Mayokam residents, the sealing of the two mining sites is therefore more than an enforcement exercise. They see it as an opportunity to begin restoring degraded land, strengthen community security and demand greater accountability from those involved in the extraction of Taraba’s mineral resources.
The Taraba State Government has maintained that protecting the state’s natural resources and communities remains a priority, while the Mobile Court has pledged to continue enforcing environmental protection laws against illegal mining and other activities that threaten public safety.
