Govt Officials Backing Illegal Mining Cartel In Taraba – Gov Kefas

Taraba State Governor Dr Agbu Kefas has threatened to dismantle an alleged illegal network sustaining illegal mining in the state, declaring that his administration would no longer allow mineral resources to be exploited outside the government’s regulatory framework.

He made the declaration during a meeting with artisanal and small-scale miners in Jalingo yesterday.

The governor alleged that some government officials and security personnel were involved in facilitating illegal mining operations which is responsible for the security challenges in some parts of the state.

He said the problem was not limited to miners operating in remote locations, alleging that some persons within official structures had become part of the illegal mining network.

“We have more illegal mining inside than those outside,” Kefas said.

He stressed that his government was determined to understand the structure behind the illegal operations and address it through stronger coordination among security agencies, regulators and mining communities.

He added that his administration would develop a system that would enable genuine miners to operate legally while making it easier for government agencies to identify and deal with those exploiting the state’s mineral resources illegally.

Kefas directed the miners’ association to submit a comprehensive list of equipment required by its members, including the estimated cost, saying government would seek financing support to acquire and deploy the equipment to designated mining sites.

According to him, properly equipped and registered miners would operate in designated areas, while off-takers would be encouraged to buy minerals from regulated locations, thereby improving traceability and government oversight.

The governor explained that the proposed arrangement would also provide security agencies with better information on mining activities and enable the government to distinguish genuine artisanal miners seeking a livelihood from criminal operators.

He further directed that accurate data on miners, their communities, villages, locations and operations be compiled as part of the reform, saying reliable information would be critical to protecting legitimate miners and regulating the sector.

Fovernor Kefas added that the state government was also working towards replacing unsafe mining and processing practices with safer technologies, particularly those involving mercury in gold processing.

He warned that the economic value of mineral resources could not justify practices capable of exposing miners and host communities to dangerous substances.