Efforts by Taraba state governor, Agbu Kefas, to regulate mining activities and curb illegal exploitation of mineral resources have come under fresh scrutiny following allegations of misconduct against some security operatives and political actors assigned to monitor mining sites in Mayo-Kam, Bali local government council.

Residents of the community, who spoke with The Guardian, alleged that miners from Zamfara, Katsina, Lagos, Gombe and other parts of the country had gained access to two mining sites, identified as Gildan Star and Gildan Boss, while indigenes were allegedly being denied access to mineral resources within their community.

The residents further accused some security personnel deployed to the sites of allegedly collecting money from miners to facilitate access, particularly at night, raising concerns about the effectiveness of security arrangements and the enforcement of mining regulations in the area.

The allegations have assumed greater significance following reports of a recent mining site collapse in Mayo-Kam that reportedly killed at least 20 miners.
However, the circumstances surrounding the incident, including its cause and the operators responsible, remain unclear.

The traditional ruler of Mayo-Kam, Sarki Baka Shaibu Haruna Mayo-Kam, has called on the state government to investigate the allegations, ensure transparency in mining operations and prevent the marginalisation of residents in the exploitation of mineral resources.

Speaking with The Guardian, the traditional ruler also questioned the withdrawal and subsequent replacement of security personnel previously deployed to the mining locations, suggesting that the changes required closer scrutiny.

“We have never witnessed the collapse of mining sites in this community until the security personnel who were there were withdrawn and replaced with the ones that are there now,” he said.

Similarly, a community elder, Abubakar Tanko, alleged that residents were being prevented from accessing the mining locations despite their willingness to engage in mining activities as a means of livelihood.

“Our people are not even allowed to have access to the mining site because the security operatives there won’t allow us,” Tanko alleged, urging the state government to intervene and address the community’s concerns.

Idris Danladi, the governor’s Special Adviser on Marketing and an indigene of Mayo-Kam, also expressed concern that the alleged conduct of some security personnel could undermine the administration’s efforts to sanitise the mining sector.

Danladi claimed that some miners were allegedly paying security personnel to gain access to the sites at night, a development he said warranted attention from the relevant authorities.

He maintained that governor Kefas had been taking steps to improve mining regulation, including engaging artisanal miners and other stakeholders who reportedly pledged to comply with government directives.

However, the allegations emerging from Mayo-Kam have raised questions about the implementation of those commitments and the effectiveness of monitoring mechanisms established to ensure compliance.

The controversy has also drawn in Shaibu Anas, a member of the Taraba State House of Assembly, whom some residents accused of working with security personnel to deny members of the community access to the mining sites.

When contacted, Anas denied the allegations, insisting that he had been doing his best to implement the governor’s mandate and ensure that mining activities were conducted appropriately.

The dispute extends beyond questions of access to mineral resources, as residents have also expressed concerns about the safety of miners operating under potentially inadequate regulatory oversight.

They warned that poorly monitored mining activities could expose workers to dangerous conditions and create opportunities for criminal activities, citing security challenges associated with illegal mining in other parts of the country.

When contacted for a reaction, the spokesperson for the Taraba State Police Command, Victor Mshelizah, said the command was not aware of the alleged misconduct by its personnel.

He said the command was monitoring the situation and had cautioned its officers against misconduct, adding that anyone found culpable would face appropriate disciplinary action.

The police spokesperson maintained that no police officer was involved in the alleged activities.