There is panic among residents of mining communities in Niger State following the influx of illegal miners from neighbouring countries.
Miners from Niger, Chad and Mali were discovered in some illegal mining sites where state government officials visited recently to check such activities.
It was gathered that residents of those areas expressed fears as the officials observed that some of the miners could hardly speak English but could communicate in pidgin and Hausa.
A source said hard drugs were found in makeshift houses built at the sites as the illegal miners escaped following the visits, but no dangerous weapon was found.
It was learnt that residents of areas like Muntun Deya, Adunni, Nyikuchi Kotongba and other communities in Shiroro and Paikoro local government areas were apprehensive considering links between mining activities and banditry and other forms of terrorism.
A resident of Nyikuchi Kotongba of Paikoro local government area told LEADERSHIP Weekend that sometimes they sleep during the day and engage in their activities in the evening and night.
Another resident who gave his name as Yakubu said their nocturnal activities called for concern. “We have informed the authorities, they came and seized drugs they used at the sites, we are truly concerned about our safety.”
The state ministry of mineral resources had set up a team that arrested scores of illegal miners but that has not deterred others.
Last Friday, the minister of solid minerals development, Dr. Dele Alake, said the federal government had arrested 327 individuals for illegal mining since 2024, indicating that the government has intensified efforts against illegal mining.
The commissioner for mineral resources in Niger State, Garba Sabo, told LEADERSHIP Weekend of the presence of foreigners in the illegal mining sites.
He said the ministry had written to the ministry of homeland security in the state for inter- ministerial collaboration to flush out the illegal immigrants embarking on such activities.
The commissioner said that it was in view of the readiness of the government to stop illegal mining that a special task force with representations of all stakeholders was set up , adding that after the holidays the task force would fully swing into action.
