Residents throng highway construction site over precious stones

Residents of Madalla, Zuma, and Chachi—communities situated along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway in Niger State—are flocking to a major road construction site to mine what they believe are precious stones. Abuja Metro reports that the amateur miners, including children, youth, and married women, are scavenging for minerals within the gravel deposits supplied for the road project. […]

Residents of Madalla, Zuma, and Chachi—communities situated along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway in Niger State—are flocking to a major road construction site to mine what they believe are precious stones.

Abuja Metro reports that the amateur miners, including children, youth, and married women, are scavenging for minerals within the gravel deposits supplied for the road project.

The residents claim to be extracting valuable minerals, which some have identified as silver or even gold.

From mechanics to miners

One of the miners, Musa Ibrahim, said he has spent the past week mining and purchasing the stones.

He intends to take the minerals to Ilesha in Osun State, a town where he has been engaged in the mineral business for years.

Similarly, Abubakar Ibrahim, a motorcycle mechanic in Madalla, has partially abandoned his trade for this newfound venture.

He told our reporter that since the discovery roughly two weeks ago, about 500 people from various communities along the highway have been participating in daily mining activities from dawn until dusk.

Our reporter found Ibrahim inside his mechanic workshop, using the same hammers he employs for repairs to extract minerals from the rocks.

He described the business as a lucrative, albeit temporary, opportunity that earns him about N15,000 daily.

“Most of the people you see mining will later sell their finds to merchants at rates between N3,000, N5,000, or more, depending on the quantity and the seller’s experience in the trade,” Ibrahim explained.

 

No conflict with construction coys

According to Ibrahim, the miners face no confrontation from construction engineers or security guards.

He noted that the scavenging does not appear to hinder the progress of the road project.

Hajara Sulaiman, a housewife seen searching for minerals near the Zuma Rock stretch of the highway, said she frequents the site accompanied by her children and neighbours.

Abuja Metro gathered that the gravel used for the construction is supplied from the Dikko area.

This location is notably close to a long-standing, popular ceramic firm known for producing building tiles.