A group of environmental activists and climate crusaders, the Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) has urged the Federal Government, Ministry of the Environment and the relevant authorities to urgently investigate cases of illegal and unregulated mining by foreigners in the country.
Executive Director of RDI, Philip Jakpor, who spoke exclusively to The Trumpet following reports of the collapse of mining pits in Adamawa and Taraba states in which no fewer than 22 persons reportedly died, yesterday, decried government’s failure to properly regulate the activities of illegal Chinese miners across the country.
His words: “The mine collapse incident at the National Games Reserve area spanning Gashaka and Toungo councils of Taraba and Adamawa states is one incident too many. A few months ago it was Shiroro in Niger State.
“We have said it time and again that proper oversight functions in communities where solid minerals are extracted is practically non-existent. Unregulated mining perpetrated by foreign nationals, especially the Chinese and their local collaborators is responsible for a growing number of deaths of school age children.
“This is unacceptable and we therefore, call on the government to investigate this incident and bring the operators of the illegal mining activities to book.”
A mining pit at an illegal mining site located within a national game reserve spanning Gashaka Council in Taraba State and Toungo Council in Adamawa State has collapsed, killing 22 miners.
A miner from Gashaka, Adamu Jamtare, who confirmed the incident, explained that many of the deceased were from Jamtare town in Gashaka Council, adding: “They were mining gold in an area known as the Buffa zone within the Gashaka-Gumti National Park, covering parts of both Gashaka and Toungo. All 22 miners trapped in the pit are presumed dead.”
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Also, Chairman of Toungo Council, Engr. Suleiman Toungo, confirmed that five miners had been found dead but was uncertain of the exact number still buried, affirmed that the incident, involving miners from various parts of Nigeria, including Zamfara and Adamawa happened almost a month ago.
According to him, illegal mining activities are often conducted covertly at night despite the area being patrolled by rangers, adding: “Five bodies have been recovered so far.”
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Adamawa Command, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, was said to have confirmed two recent reports of casualties from pit collapses.
He said in one incident, four miners perished, while in another, six miners were involved, with two confirmed dead and four sustaining injuries, and stated that the police are collaborating with the Gumti National Park authorities to arrest and prosecute the illegal miners involved.
