Why Mining Persists In Minna Despite Death Of 37 Miners, Bago’s Ban

Despite, the arrest and detention of 37 miners that led to their death in custody mining activities within Residential areas in Minna Niger state capital persisted.

LEADERSHIP reported that the Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has announced a ban on all mining activities immediately the incident occurred and promised to streamline the process for a permanent solution to problems associated with the activities especially around Mi Wushishi estate, Minna

It was however observed that the usual activities at various sites continued in large proportion as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC stopped the patrol of the sites

A Resident Abubakar Alhassan decried that the miners were more daring than before since the incident occurred saying “ they are still mining there is that superstition that since some miners bloods have been taken in the process they will get more gold easily”.

He said that belief and the fact that the NSCDC mining Marshals have so far stopped patrol of the sites , they are now free and daring to dig for gold without hindrance.

Another Resident Abdullahi Dauda said the situation is even getting worse as miners now dig deep into people’s houses without considering the environmental impacts of their actions.

When contacted the Commissioner Mineral Resources Hon. Muhammad Qasim Danjuma could not be reached but a senior mining field officer at the ministry who preferred anonymity told LEADERSHIP that the situation was difficult to control because there were people who were licensed by the federal government and the state government has no control over them.

The senior officer hinted that the government only banned mining around M I Wushishi estate Minna where the miners were digging into people’s houses and not in the entire state.

When asked what the police was doing about the situation in view of the order of the Governor and the security implications; the Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, SP Wasiu Abiodun said the police has been monitoring the illegal mining sites.

“The Police patrol teams have been monitoring these illegal mining sites, recently, some arrests were made and we shall continue to patrol these locations. However, the Police Command will work closely with the ministry of mineral resources towards arriving at permanent solution,” he stated.