Taraba Task Force Arrests Suspected Illegal Miners, Raids Mining Sites

The Taraba State Task Force on Illegal Mining has raided illegal mining sites and arrested several illegal miners across four communities in the state.

The suspected illegal miners, who were arrested at Mayo-Kam, Garba Chide, Kussum Mallam Ali Gora communities, have been handed over to mobile court for prosecution.

The chairman of the task force, Major A.M. Ghali, who disclosed this to LEADERSHIP, Friday, said the operation had reduced illegal mining activities in the aforementioned locations, where miners congregate to extract and process gold.
Ghali said the task force had identified between eight and nine such sites, with an estimated 200 to 400 people operating at each location when its members first visited.

He listed Daba Kusum, DabaYerima and Daba Mata among the areas where the task force had conducted operations, saying the locations had become largely deserted following sustained enforcement efforts.

According to him, the task force has made several arrests since commencing operations, although he could not provide an exact figure, explaining that he did not have the relevant records with him during the interview.

He said, suspects found to be directly involved in illegal mining were profiled and transferred to the mobile court for prosecution, while those engaged in legitimate commercial activities, such as selling food, drinks and fuel, were warned against operating within restricted mining areas.

Major Ghali, disclosed that some of the suspects arrested were from Kano, Kebbi, Katsina, Zanfara and Sokoto states, while others were indigenes of Taraba, particularly from areas including Mayokam, Bali, Karim Lamido and Wukari.

Regarding the challenges confronting the task force, the chairman identified difficult terrain as a major obstacle to effective enforcement, noting that some mining locations were inaccessible to conventional vehicles.

He said, operatives sometimes relied on motorcycles to reach the sites, while some locations required them to cross water and travel for several hours before arriving at areas where illegal mining activities were taking place.

Major Ghali, who spoke on the reported collapse that allegedly killed several miner, said the incident occurred before the task force was formally inaugurated.

He explained that, the task force, upon receiving information about the incident, immediately proceeded to the scene in collaboration with police personnel deployed at Mayo-Kam, who were among the first responders.

Major Ghali, however dismissed reports suggesting that between 20 and 30 people died in the incident, insisting that four people were trapped in the collapsed pit and that their bodies had been recovered.

While expressing optimism that the affected areas could eventually be cleared of illegal mining activities, he urged residents to remain patient and cooperate with the task force.

According to him, the state government may consider lifting the mining ban after the affected locations have been sanitised, allowing legitimate miners to resume operations under safer and more orderly conditions.

On allegations that security operatives, including personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), were extorting money from miners, Major Ghali said that investigating the DSS’s activities was outside the task force’s mandate.

He, however, acknowledged that allegations of extortion had been brought to the task force’s attention, saying such matters should be handled by the appropriate authorities.

The chairman maintained that the task force’s primary responsibility was to curb illegal mining and prevent the unauthorised exploitation of Taraba State’s mineral resources.

He said the operation would continue until illegal mining activities were brought under control, assuring residents that the task force remained committed to protecting the state’s mineral wealth.