Gov’t Clampdown On Illegal Mining, Deforestation In Taraba Shows Promise, But At A Cost

Chuwang Emmanuel

Many communities in Taraba state, especially in the Central and Southern parts of the state have been devastated by an unchecked solid mineral and Indian rose tree rush.

The state Chairman of Task Force on Illegal Mining and Deforestation Prohibition, Jeremiah Faransa, said Billions of Naira worth of solid minerals and Indian rose trees, popularly known as Madrid are being taken out of the state yearly, with the state getting nothing in return.

Mr Faransa said the activities of the illegal Miners have caused the state serious damages as most of the lands  are no longer usable either for farming or other activities.

“What we have seen in the field is terrifying. For instance, Miners have excavated Akwana on both sides such that if there are any security threats, the people will be at extreme risk because there is no escape route.

He said more than half of the rain forest across the state has been deforested. Much of that destruction and gold production has been centered in Mayo Seni, Gashaka LGA.

Speaking during a Press briefing last week in Jalingo, Faransa estimated that the task force had arrested over a hundred ring leaders of the illegal mining cabals, and had expelled over 70% of the 20,000 illegal miners who had been devastating mining territories across the state, since launching their clampdown in June.

Faransa-led task force, which was inaugurated shortly after Agbu Kefas became governor, said the arrest and eviction of illegal miners was bearing fruit.

“During our operation, we seized 22,375kg of Blue Sapphire worth millions of Naira. We also arrested and prosecuted over 100 key ring leaders of the illegal miners and some of their accomplices. We have recorded a significant reduction.” He said

Faransa said there is a likelihood of the illegal miners returning to the sites but warned there will be strict enforcement of the laws to ward off such miscreants.

Kefas, while inaugurating the task force, pledged his support to the continued battle against illegal gold mining and deforestation in the state.

His plan is to legalise and regulate mining to better control it, as well as incorporate its profits into the tax base.

He said he also wants existing mining sites to be mined deeper for missed gold to reduce further tree loss.

However, others say that focusing on reducing illegal mining and deforestation in the state without providing an alternative means to thousands of people working on the mining sites is just shifting the problem to other areas.

Solomon Ishaya, a security expert and  a leader of the indigenous Damper tribe that resides within the Central part of the state, told UNIVERSAL REPORTERS  that the “initiative is good, but at a cost.”

“Government should look for ways of providing alternative means of livelihood to the over 20,000 displaced illegal miners, who are mostly youth or be ready to battle crime

“Many illegal miners have lost their illegal sources of livelihood and what do you expect? They either relocate to other sites and continue or engage in other criminal activities

“If you notice in the last few weeks the spate of kidnapping and cattle rustling has increased across the state, these activities are being carried out by the displaced illegal miners.

He said the task force only succeeded in displacing them, noting that in the next few weeks, they will return to sites.

He said, “While making efforts for the protection and proper utilisation of our natural resources, the government must also fashion alternative means of livelihood for those affected by the clampdown.” He said.

Citing an example from Ghana, he said “President Akufo-Addo launched the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme, designed to help alleviate the hardship suffered by miners affected by the government’s efforts to sanitise the mining industry.

Speaking to UNIVERSAL REPORTERS, spokesperson for the task force Ibrahim Zuppai, agreed that the high increase in crime across the state is a result of the clampdown on the criminal activities of the illegal mining syndicates.

He however noted that over 90% of the illegal miners operating in the state are not Taraba indigenes.

“What is happening is that people are coming to mine in our communities and they are not indigenes, and they take away our resources.

“They are coming from Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna. Some of them are foreigners from Burkina Faso, Senegal, Chad and Cameron, including the labourers.”

“Like what we saw in Dogon Yasu in Maihula, Bali local government, majority of those working in the mining sites cannot speak Hausa or English, they only speak French

He said that the government has provided measures to cater for the few young indigenes working on the mining sites, one of the measures is the provision of free basic education.

“I am very sure the government will also exploit other measures to ensure that the few Tarabians affected are being taken care of.

On the issue of security, he said the government is collaborating with security agencies in the state to chase out those foreigners creating insecurity in the state.

“The governor has personally visited all the security formations in the state to discuss strategies on how to flush out these bandits out of the state.” Mr Zuppai said.