Once the backbone of Plateau State’s economy, mining has now become a source of crime, environmental degradation, and child labor, forcing the state government to take drastic measures.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang has signed Executive Order 001, 2025, suspending all illegal mining activities to curb rising insecurity, child exploitation, and land degradation.
Mining sites in areas like Bokkos, Barakin-Ladi, Riyom, Wase, and Kanam have become havens for criminal activities, including prostitution, gambling, and drug trafficking. Worse still, a growing number of children are abandoning school to work at these sites.
The Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, raised alarm over the situation, warning that the high number of out-of-school children due to mining poses a severe threat to the state’s future.
The government’s new Technical Committee on Mining Reform, chaired by the Commissioner for Justice, Philemon Dafi, will oversee the enforcement of regulations to restore order in the sector.
Security agencies have been directed to strictly enforce the suspension, while stakeholders, including traditional rulers and community leaders, have been urged to support the initiative.
While the crackdown aims to curb illegal operations, concerns remain about the livelihoods of legal miners and other businesses that rely on the industry. Experts suggest that better regulation, enforcement, and community engagement will be key to balancing security and economic interests in Plateau’s troubled mining sector.
Plateau Mining Crisis: Illegal Operations Spark Insecurity
