Disquiet in Zamfara over move to shut gold mines

He was busy crushing stones and gathering the particles. Beside him was a very deep mining pit dug over the years in search of another precious stone called gold. When our correspondent approached him for enquiries into their activities, he dropped the shovel he was holding to pay attention. Asked what would be his fate […]

He was busy crushing stones and gathering the particles. Beside him was a very deep mining pit dug over the years in search of another precious stone called gold. When our correspondent approached him for enquiries into their activities, he dropped the shovel he was holding to pay attention.

Asked what would be his fate should the government ban mining activities in the state, the gold digger, Mallam Isah Tanimu said, “I will go back to my village and engage in another business. I have been in the gold digging business for many years. I hail from Bakori town in the neighbouring Katsina State. If government bans gold mining I will be quitting a job I cherish most. However, I will accept whatever life offers next in good faith.’’

Beside him was a teenager who simply gave his name as Musa. One wonders why this young boy decided to take up mining as business instead of going to school.

“I’m earning a living here. I am quite aware of the dangers associated with this kind of business, which include the possible collapse of tunnels. This can bury miners alive as happened before in some fields. Armed bandits can also invade the site,’’ he said.

Some of the gold diggers at the popular Bagega and Bindin mining sites told Daily Trust on Sunday that the move to ban their activities in the state could seriously affect their means of livelihood, adding that they completely depend on it for a living.

“I heard that the state government would chase miners away from their sites. Where do we go to? I can tell you that most of us here have no other business, therefore, closing down these gold mines would cause untold hardship to us,’’ a miner, Lawali Aminu said.

Despite the fact that the host communities are aware of the dangers of engaging in such activities, residents give deaf ears to warnings by concerned authorities.

Asked why he did not wear any safety helmet, a middle-aged miner who was crushing stones at the site said, “I don’t know anything about protective helmets. I have been doing it like that and nothing has happened to me. But I would use one if it is made available to me. The grinding machine here doesn’t belong to me. I was only hired to do the job of stone crushing.’’

Our correspondent further gathered that many youths engage in the mining business because there is always a ready market for gold as big dealers from neighbouring countries patronise them. They don’t need to go to Gusau to sell their goods. The goods are marketed at the mining field. 

Speaking to Daily Trust on Sunday in his palace, the Emir of Maru, Alhaji Abubakar Chika Ibrahim, who owns a mining field, said he went into the business to become financially independent and avoid bothering his subjects by collecting peanuts from them. He said he sought the advice of his people before going into the business. 

“I obtained the exploration licenses from the Federal Ministry of Mining and the Zamfara State Ministry of Commerce and Industry. After that, I looked for investors to join hands with me and make the business a success. That was how I started my Mining Processing Company,’’ he said.

On the dangers in the mining business, Alhaji Ibrahim said they tried as much as possible to avoid accidents at his mining sites, adding that they instructed the miners not to dig beneath the earth crust.

“There is a certain depth the miners cannot go. We have brought excavators to expand the pits so as to minimise the rate of accidents. Also, all necessary safety helmets were provided for them,” he added.

On the infiltration of illegal miners to the sites, the emir said 50per cent of the youth in the rural communities was jobless; hence they have found the mining business as way to survive. He said a lot of such youths had made huge financial gains from the gold mines, which are spread across the rural communities in the state.

“Despite the fact that they are allowed to mine gold, we monitor and check their activities. This is because stopping the youths from going to the gold mines would amount to inviting other societal ills,’’ he further said. 

A team of security operatives was instructed to seal off a very rich gold mine at Tungar Lada village in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state.

Already, a mining firm, INTA General Enterprises, has petitioned the state government, the Inspector-General of Police and the Federal Ministry of Mining and Steel Development over its rich mining site at the Tungar Lada village in Talata Mafara Local Government Area. The petition was signed by the firm’s solicitor, Mr Sam Anosike.

According to the managing director of the company, Alhaji Shamsuddeen Dahiru

Gusau, the mining site in question is very rich in gold. “You don’t have to dig deep beneath the earth crust before finding gold. I think it is one of the richest sites here.

“Suddenly, policemen came to the site and instructed us to vacate. Shortly afterwards, the site was handed over to Jafaru Abdulaziz Yari, who is a brother to Governor Abdulaziz Yari.

“We have obtained all the valid documents, including exploration and mining licenses from the Federal Government, why then should they collect something from Mr A and give it to Mr B? That is why we petitioned all the relevant authorities on the matter,’’ he added.

Reacting to the matter, the state Commissioner for Environment and Solid Mineral Development, Alhaji Idris Muhammad Keta, said the action became necessary to enable the government put things in order.

He said although a high powered delegation would be in Abuja this week to discuss the matter, the state government had already taken steps to close the mining sites as part of new modalities to regulate their activities in the state.

He said, “We know that the issuance of mining rights and licenses is a Federal Government reserve, but we also expect to be informed about such activities since they are taking place in our jurisdiction.’’

The commissioner said he sought for the deployment of police personnel to close the site, having realised that the labourers were beginning to fight, which could lead to the loss of lives.

“We are yet to recover from the crises caused by cattle rustling, armed banditry, kidnapping, meningitis and lead poisoning, where hundreds of lives and property were lost, so we cannot allow a new crisis to start. Apart from that, the lead poisoning menace has become an issue of serious concern to us. As I am talking to you we need to do soil decontamination in about 50 more villages. Many lives have been lost; hence we deem it fit to regulate the activities of these miners,’’ he added.