Nigeria’s Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (PAGMI) has recorded a major enforcement boost following a coordinated security operation that cleared hundreds of illegal miners from gold sites in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The operation, carried out by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Mining Marshals in collaboration with the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force, targeted mining locations previously designated under PAGMI but taken over by unregulated operators.

Security officials said the sites had been occupied for months by illegal miners running operations far beyond artisanal scale, using heavy machinery, crushers and, in some cases, explosives. These activities, authorities noted, resulted in severe land degradation, water pollution and rising insecurity in nearby communities.

Residents of Yauri described the illegal mining influx as destabilising. Community leaders said farmlands were damaged, waterways discoloured and unfamiliar groups moved freely in the area, often without accountability. Some locals also reported incidents linked to abandoned pits, particularly during the rainy season.

Environmental specialists familiar with the region warned that unregulated mining often leaves behind contaminated soil, unsafe excavations and polluted rivers, creating long-term risks for agriculture, public health and livelihoods. Officials said these concerns informed the decision to reclaim the sites.

Speaking after the operation, John Onoja Attah, Assistant Commandant of Corps and commander of the Mining Marshals, said PAGMI was designed to bring structure and accountability to artisanal mining while ensuring host communities benefit from mineral resources.

According to him, only operators registered under recognised legal frameworks would be allowed to mine within PAGMI corridors, stressing that activities outside those rules undermine safety, environmental protection and national security.

He added that enforcement would be sustained, with Mining Marshals directed to maintain continuous patrols and surveillance to prevent illegal reoccupation of the cleared sites. Relevant agencies, he said, would also assess environmental damage and support remediation efforts.