Federal Crackdown on Illegal Mining Intensifies in Kebbi State
In a significant enforcement action, Nigeria's Mining Marshals have successfully displaced thousands of illegal miners from designated mining sites in Kebbi state. The operation, conducted under the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (PAGMI), represents a major federal effort to restore lawful order to the country's solid minerals sector.
Multi-Agency Security Operation Reclaims Mining Territories
The coordinated crackdown involved operatives from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals working in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Police Force. These security agencies reclaimed mining locations in Yauri Local Government Area that had been illegally occupied for several months by unregulated operators running large-scale operations.
According to official statements, the illegal miners had deployed heavy-duty excavators, crushers, and even explosives indiscriminately across the mining sites. These destructive practices resulted in widespread land degradation, documented cases of water pollution, and increased insecurity in surrounding communities.
Environmental and Community Impact of Unregulated Mining
Residents of Yauri described the illegal mining surge as a prolonged crisis that threatened their livelihoods and safety. "Our farmlands were being systematically destroyed, and the river we depend on for daily needs was turning brown with contamination," revealed a community leader who requested anonymity for security reasons. "We lived in constant fear because armed strangers arrived daily, operating without any accountability."
Environmental experts familiar with the region warn that such unregulated mining practices typically leave behind:
- Contaminated soil that remains toxic for years
- Unstable mining pits that pose drowning hazards
- Polluted waterways that compromise public health
- Long-term risks to agriculture and local economies
Local sources confirmed that abandoned mining pits had already claimed lives, particularly during rainy seasons when they become treacherous water traps.
Official Response and Policy Framework
Speaking after the operation, Assistant Commandant of Corps John Onoja Attah, commander of the Mining Marshals, emphasized that PAGMI represents a deliberate policy intervention designed to formalize artisanal mining, empower host communities, and ensure mineral resources translate into shared economic benefits.
"PAGMI is fundamentally about inclusion, structure, and sustainability," Mr. Attah stated. "Those genuinely interested in mining must register and operate within established legal frameworks. Operations outside these parameters endanger lives, destroy the environment, and fuel insecurity."
The commander added that beyond enforcement actions, the initiative prioritizes environmental remediation, community participation, and continuous monitoring—elements consistently absent in illegal mining operations.
Broader Implications for Nigeria's Mining Sector
Analysts view the Yauri operation as part of a broader federal push to sanitize Nigeria's solid minerals sector, curb revenue leakages, and dismantle informal networks that have transformed artisanal mining zones into centers of environmental abuse and criminal activity. The NSCDC Mining Marshals have received directives to maintain constant surveillance and routine patrols across reclaimed sites to prevent reoccupation while collaborating with relevant agencies to assess environmental damage and support recovery efforts.
For communities caught between poverty and predatory mining interests, the intervention offers cautious optimism. "If PAGMI is allowed to function as originally designed," commented a local youth leader, "then mining can finally benefit our people instead of systematically destroying our land and resources."
Related Security Concerns in Northern Mining Regions
In a related development, security experts have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take urgent action against illegal mining activities in Zamfara state, with recommendations to extend such measures across northern Nigeria. These experts warn that unregulated mining practices continue to fuel banditry and undermine national security efforts, highlighting the interconnected nature of illegal resource extraction and regional instability.
