Pix: Commandant Ishaku Musa

The Plateau State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ishaku Musa, has issued a strong appeal to traditional rulers across the state to expose and report illegal miners operating within their domains. According to him, the active support of community leaders is vital to ending the growing menace of unlicensed mineral exploitation in Plateau State.

Musa made the call during an engagement with traditional leaders following recent crackdowns on illegal mining operations across the state. He said traditional rulers must no longer remain silent or indifferent, especially when illegal mining has been linked to child labor, environmental degradation, insecurity, and economic sabotage. The Commandant stressed that communities must cooperate with security agencies and report any suspicious mining activity, especially those occurring without valid licenses or government authorization.

In recent months, the NSCDC Plateau Command has intensified its operations against illegal mining syndicates. On March 25, 2025, operatives arrested 10 suspected illegal miners in Bukuru, Jos South Local Government Area. The suspects were apprehended while carrying out unauthorized mining with tools such as motorcycles, generators, water hoses, and shovels. NSCDC officials confirmed that the suspects would be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations.

This arrest followed an earlier raid in August 2024, when the Corps apprehended 15 suspected illegal miners in the same Bukuru axis, including 13 minors. Investigations revealed that adults were recruiting children to carry out mining activities, putting their lives at risk and further compounding the region’s school dropout crisis. Authorities have also warned landowners and community figures against leasing out property or land for unlicensed mining, emphasizing that they will be held accountable as accomplices.

The clampdown comes after the Plateau State Government, under the leadership of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, suspended all mining activities in the state through Executive Order 001. The state government also inaugurated a Technical Committee on Mining Reform, headed by the Attorney General, to verify mining licenses, designate proper zones, enforce the law, and collect accurate data on operations. This decision was in response to widespread concerns about the environmental and social damage caused by unregulated mining, as well as the role of illegal miners in fueling local conflicts.

Security officials have also raised concerns about the involvement of foreign nationals in illegal mining. In March 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested 31 individuals including four Chinese nationals and 27 Nigerians connected to illegal operations at Mt. Dura Rayfield in Jos. Authorities also recovered approximately 1,000 kilograms of processed monazite, a rare and valuable mineral, packed in eight bags, each estimated to be worth ₦4 million.

Beyond arrests, the NSCDC and other agencies are now working to recover seized mining sites and hand them over to verified, legitimate titleholders. Commandant Musa has urged traditional rulers to assist in identifying valid license holders to ensure that reclaimed sites are used for legal and productive purposes in line with national interests.

The Plateau NSCDC boss emphasized that the battle against illegal mining cannot be won by security agencies alone. He called for community vigilance and warned that traditional rulers who fail to act or who collude with illegal operators risk being treated as enablers of criminal activity. He urged all stakeholders to join the effort to sanitize the mining sector, restore environmental order, and ensure that mining operations benefit the people and the economy of Plateau State.

With continued cooperation from local leaders, security agencies, and relevant authorities, the NSCDC remains committed to dismantling illegal mining networks and restoring accountability in Plateau’s mineral sector.