The task force, comprising military personnel and local vigilantes, stormed the site where some of the miners were arrested. The task force chairman, SP Emmanuel Jamu, described the operation as a major breakthrough in the state's ongoing crackdown on illegal mining activities.
"We Are Here to Shut Them Down"
SP Jamu said the joint security team acted on credible intelligence before storming the site, forcing the suspected illegal miners to abandon their operations and flee.
"Our team, in conjunction with troops and local vigilantes, acted on credible intelligence and raided the illegal mining location. On sighting the security operatives, the illegal miners fled the area," he said.
The commander of the Anti-Illegal Mining Task Force, Jamu Emmanuel Lyon, declared that the task force was not in Gangtu mining site to negotiate with illegal miners but to completely halt their activities.
"We are not here to negotiate. We are here to shut them down. Every day, these criminals operate, they poison our rivers, destroy our farmlands, and rob our state. Today, we send a message that cannot be ignored," Lyon said.
International Dimension to Illegal Mining
Jamu said many of the suspected illegal miners were from outside Taraba State and had entered the area to carry out mining activities without authorisation. The Gantu community has become a major hotspot for illegal gold mining, attracting miners from different parts of Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
He described the community as "one of the busiest gold processing locations in Nigeria," adding that large numbers of illegal miners had been arriving from the Republic of Cameroon to engage in the illicit trade.
A video circulating on social media showed a large number of persons engaged in illegal mining activities at the site before the security operation, highlighting the scale of unauthorised mining in the area.
Governor's Crackdown Order
The operation follows a directive from Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas to the task force to clamp down on illegal mining in the state. The task force had been operating for some months, focusing on illegal mining and other criminal activities in local government areas.
The task force has identified several illegal mining sites across the state and is conducting systematic operations to dismantle them. "We will not relent until every illegal mining site is closed down," Lyon said.
A Growing Problem
Illegal mining has become a significant problem in Taraba and other states in northern Nigeria, where artisanal miners have been extracting gold and other minerals without proper authorisation. The activities have been linked to environmental degradation, water pollution and health problems in affected communities.
The state government has warned that illegal mining also contributes to insecurity and the funding of criminal networks, making it a priority for law enforcement.
"These illegal mining activities have been linked to the funding of criminal networks, environmental degradation and loss of state revenue," Lyon said.
With reporting from Daily Trust, Leadership News, Premium Times and Taraba State Government.
