Anti-illegal Mining Taskforce Storms Abasha Village, Recovers Equipment As Miners Flee

The fight against illegal mining in Taraba State took an interesting turn on Wednesday as the state's Anti-Illegal Mining Taskforce executed a decisive raid on a notorious gold mining site located in the remote Abasha village, Kurmi Local Government Area.

The operation, led by the dynamic SP Emmanuel Jamu, was launched following credible intelligence regarding heavy illegal mining activities in the area. 

The team navigated difficult terrain to reach the site, with the primary objective of apprehending the suspects involved in the unauthorised excavation of gold deposits for immediate prosecution in a court of law.

However, upon the taskforce's arrival at the location, the camp appeared deserted. It is believed that the illegal miners, suspected to have a well-developed intelligence network, got wind of the team's approach and fled into the surrounding forests, abandoning their equipment and tools in the process.

While the suspects evaded arrest, the operation was not a total loss. The taskforce recovered several pieces of equipment used for the illegal operations, including pumping machines, diggers, and processing materials. The site, which showed significant signs of environmental degradation due to unregulated mining, was also cleared and documented for further action.

Speaking to the press after the exercise, SP Emmanuel Jamu reiterated the unwavering commitment of the taskforce to rid the state of all forms of illegal mining.

"We are here in Abasha to send a clear message. Whether they are here or not, we will keep coming. We are strategically positioned and technically deployed to fish out all those involved in illegal mining across the state," SP Jamu stated. "They can run today, but they cannot run forever. We will track them down, and they will face the full weight of the law."

The taskforce chairman also called on traditional rulers and community leaders in Kurmi and other mining-prone areas to cooperate with the government by providing useful information that will lead to the arrest of these economic saboteurs.

The state government has vowed to continue these aggressive patrols to protect the state's mineral wealth and ensure that mining activities are conducted legally and safely.