RESIDENTS APPLAUD CLOSURE OF ILLEGAL GOLD MINING SITES IN TARABA
Read Time:2 Minute, 18 Second
By:Tajudeen Aminat
Residents of Mayokam Community in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State have expressed support for the sealing of two major gold mining sites by the state’s Mobile Court over alleged environmental degradation and violations of environmental protection laws.
The affected sites, Gidan Boss and Gidan Star, were sealed after an inspection by the Mobile Court reportedly revealed significant environmental damage linked to illegal mining activities.
The enforcement operation was conducted under Executive Order No. 5 of 2023, which provides for environmental protection, public safety and the prohibition of deforestation in Taraba State.
According to the task force, the action was aimed at protecting the environment, conserving natural resources and safeguarding communities hosting mining activities.
Residents welcomed the intervention, alleging that mining operations had destroyed farmlands and degraded the environment without providing meaningful benefits to the host communities.
A community leader, Zubairu Sumaila, alleged that local residents had been excluded from the mining activities despite the operations taking place on their land.
He said the closure was a welcome development because the communities had gained little from the mining activities while suffering extensive damage to their lands.
Sumaila urged the state government to extend the enforcement exercise to other mining locations across Taraba to protect the environment and the interests of host communities.
Another resident, Tanko Abu, raised concerns over the security implications of miners allegedly arriving from other states.
He commended the Mobile Court and the state government for taking decisive action against what he described as illegal mining activities.
Similarly, Hajiya Aisha Jamartu praised the court for enforcing environmental laws, saying the intervention was long overdue.
During its inspection, the court reportedly received briefings from security personnel deployed to the area. The operatives alleged that some miners operating at the sites came from Zamfara, Katsina and Bauchi states, as well as Cameroon.
Following the inspection, the court ordered the immediate closure of the two sites and handed them over to security agencies for enforcement and compliance.
Residents also alleged that local youths were being exploited, claiming some received minimal payments despite the commercial value of the gold extracted from the area.
They further linked illegal mining to rising criminality and drug abuse, expressing concern over its wider impact on the community.
The Mobile Court urged residents to comply with the law and cooperate with government agencies and security personnel as efforts to protect Taraba’s environment and mineral resources intensify.
The court warned that Executive Order No. 5 of 2023 remains in force and that anyone found engaging in illegal mining could face prosecution and punishment upon conviction.
The development has renewed calls for a balance between exploiting Taraba’s mineral resources and protecting the environment, ensuring community participation and maintaining public safety.
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