EFCC Nabs Three Illegal Gold Miners in Borno

Operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Maiduguri Zonal Directorate have apprehended three individuals accused of illegal gold mining in Borno State, acting on credible intelligence about their operations. The arrests occurred in Mallam Jakwa Town, Hawul Local Government Area, where the suspects—Umar Muhammad, Modu Bamai Umar, and Sani Samaila—were found with a small gold measuring device and quantities of mined gold. Investigations are ongoing, after which the suspects will face court charges.

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Borno State has maintained a ban on mining activities since 2023, primarily due to security risks, including potential funding for insurgent groups through unregulated mineral extraction. Despite this, illegal operations persist in remote areas like Hawul LGA, contributing to conflicts over mining sites and exacerbating regional instability. These activities often involve artisanal miners digging deep pits, which heighten dangers for locals and security forces navigating the terrain.

Illegal gold mining in Borno leads to severe land degradation, deforestation, and water pollution, stripping vegetation and creating hazardous open pits that hinder ecological recovery. Insecurity worsens as such operations can finance armed groups, with sites in forested areas like those near Sambisa serving as hideouts. The EFCC’s intervention underscores ongoing efforts to curb these practices, similar to recent arrests in Kwara and Oyo states involving lithium and tin.