​Nasarawa Clampdown: Deputy Governor Leads Raid, Arrests 3 Chinese Nationals and Others Over Illegal Mining

​The Nasarawa State Government has intensified its crackdown on illegal mineral exploitation, apprehending three Chinese nationals alongside several local artisanal miners during a high-stakes security raid in the Kokona Local Government Area.

​The operation, executed in the Amba community, was personally led by Nasarawa State Deputy Governor Dr. Emmanuel Akabe at the head of a joint security task force. According to state authorities, the targeted site had been under a strict government-mandated suspension order due to unresolved legal disputes. However, intelligence reports revealed that illicit operations had continued unabated in flagrant defiance of the directive.

​“We came to see firsthand what is happening at the site because we have received several reports that illegal mining activities have continued despite the directive stopping them,” Dr. Akabe stated during an onsite inspection.

​Sophisticated Surveillance and Seizures

​During the raid, security operatives uncovered a well-organized clandestine operation. Authorities recovered significant quantities of suspected mineral resources meticulously packed in cartons ready for transit.

​In a bid to evade law enforcement, the operators had installed advanced surveillance infrastructure, including closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras around the perimeter to monitor movements and track the approach of security personnel. All operational equipment and surveillance apparatus were confiscated by the state team.

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​Regulatory Defiance and Host Community Neglect

​Highlighting the legal boundaries of the sector, Dr. Akabe reiterated that solid mineral administration falls exclusively under the legislative jurisdiction of the federal government . He emphasized that commercial operators must strictly adhere to statutory requirements, environmental impact assessments (EIAs), and corporate social responsibility (CSR) pacts with host communities.

​“There was no agreement with the community regarding corporate social responsibility or environmental impact assessments before mining activities commenced,” Dr. Akabe noted, stressing that the state government is firmly committed to protecting local populations from exploitation and environmental degradation.

​Speaking through an interpreter, the detained Chinese nationals claimed they had been operating at the location since the previous year, acting under the directives of corporate employers based in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.

​Zero Tolerance and Ongoing Proscriptions

​The Nasarawa State Government has confirmed that the disputed site will remain locked down and completely closed to all forms of commercial activity until ongoing litigations surrounding the land ownership and titles are legally resolved.

​The suspects have been handed over to relevant security agencies for comprehensive profiling and subsequent prosecution under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act. State officials maintain that the joint clampdown serves as a stern warning to unauthorized syndicates attempting to exploit the region’s vast solid mineral wealth outside the bounds of the law.