Inside Taraba’s Mining Village

Government Officials, Security Agents Involved In Illegal Mining

Government Should Engage Locals, Not Taskforce

Residents Want Mining Activities Stopped

A dispute over mining activities in three communities in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State is deepening, with residents alleging that government officials, security personnel and other individuals are linked to mining operations in forests where activities were reportedly suspended.

At the centre of the dispute are Kamjiri, Gangtu and Kussum, communities represented by the KJ Community Development and Multi-Purpose Association.

The residents say the issue goes beyond the extraction of minerals.

They are questioning who authorised the mining, who controls the mineral resources, what happened to stockpiled minerals left at the sites and why mining activities allegedly continued after the government ordered their suspension.

During a press briefing and protest, the community accused some individuals and government agents of allegedly facilitating mining operations and the movement of mineral stones from the affected sites.

Reading the association’s statement, Hon. Zubairu Gulde called for an investigation into the alleged sale and diversion of mineral stockpiles.

He appealed to the Federal Government, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the allegations.

The association also demanded an immediate stop to the loading and transportation of mineral stones from the sites and the removal of heavy equipment and what it described as unauthorised personnel.

But perhaps the most serious allegation raised by the residents concerns the role of security personnel deployed to the area.

The Security Question

Hon. Abdullatif Abdullahi alleged that personnel deployed to enforce the government’s suspension order were instead being used to escort people into the forests.

“Security personnel stationed in this area are being utilized; they are being used to escort people into the forests to work,” he alleged.

The allegation places the conduct of the security operation at the heart of the controversy.

If established, it would raise questions about the enforcement of the reported suspension and the activities of personnel assigned to the area.

Abdullahi warned that continued mining could worsen tensions and create security and displacement problems for communities in the area.

“Mining is not our concern or interest; it will only bring us trouble,” he said.

He urged Governor Agbu Kefas to intervene before the dispute escalates.

Locals Versus Task Force

Another issue raised by the residents is the approach adopted by the government in securing the mining areas.

Hon. Sani Yerima alleged that the deployment of the security task force had resulted in harassment of residents and other legitimate users of the forest.

He further alleged that vehicle parts belonging to suspended miners had been damaged or removed and that some herders had suffered attacks and lost livestock.

Yerima appealed to the governor to reconsider the deployment of the task force and explore the use of locally recruited security personnel working under traditional and district authorities.

His argument is that people familiar with the terrain would be better placed to distinguish between miners and other legitimate forest users, including farmers and herders.

Who Owns the Minerals?

Beneath the security dispute lies a more fundamental question: who owns the mineral resources?

One of the community representatives insisted that the gold reportedly known locally as “Dusan gold” belonged to the community.

He argued that people whose ancestral lands contain the resources should not be excluded from decisions concerning their exploitation.

The community also rejected alleged consent documents reportedly presented to the Mining Cadastre Office, insisting that legitimate landowners and traditional custodians did not authorise the mining activities.

The position of the residents is that mineral development should not take place without proper consultation, regulation and recognition of the interests of communities connected to the land.

The Operators’ Dilemma

The government’s reported suspension has also created a problem for mining operators who invested heavily in equipment.

Owners of mining engines and other machines have appealed to the state government to give them reasonable time to retrieve their equipment from the affected sites.

For the operators, the issue is no longer simply whether mining should continue. They also want their investments protected following the suspension.

The residents, however, are demanding that mining activities remain stopped while the government investigates the circumstances surrounding the operations.

What the Community Wants

The communities have now placed the matter before the government and several anti-corruption and security agencies.

They want the alleged sale and movement of mineral stockpiles investigated.

They want the reported suspension of mining activities enforced.

They want the ownership and control of the mineral resources clarified.

They want allegations against security personnel investigated.

And they want the government to engage traditional authorities and local stakeholders in finding a lasting solution.

The residents warn that allowing the dispute to linger could transform what is currently a disagreement over mining into a broader security problem.

For the people of Kamjiri, Gangtu and Kussum, the demand is straightforward: stop the mining activities, investigate the allegations and ensure that decisions concerning their ancestral land and its mineral resources are made transparently.

The allegations made by the residents and operators have not been independently established, and the authorities involved have yet to publicly respond to the specific claims raised at the briefing.

But the controversy has exposed a deeper challenge facing mineral-rich communities: how to balance exploitation of natural resources with community rights, security, environmental concerns and accountability.

Sarah David Yerima is a broadcast Journalist with Rock FM Jalingo