Illegal miners abandon Taraba site ahead of fresh task force raid

Illegal miners operating in Gangtu village, in Bali Local Government Council of Taraba State, have once again fled their mining site ahead of a raid by the Anti-Illegal Mining Task Force.

The task force, led by Chairman Jamu Emmanuel Lyon, said the repeated abandonment of mining locations by suspected illegal miners shows that sustained surveillance and operations are putting pressure on unauthorized operators across the state.

Jamu disclosed this over the weekend after he and his team returned to Gangtu village following intelligence reports that illegal mining activities had resumed in the area despite previous warnings.

According to him, operatives moved swiftly to the location but discovered that the miners had already escaped, leaving behind equipment and fleeing into nearby bushes, allegedly after receiving information about the planned operation.

Although no arrests were made during the exercise, the task force chairman described the development as a positive indication that illegal miners were becoming increasingly aware of the security pressure against their activities.

“This is the second time in two weeks that we have stormed this location, and each time, we find that the illegal miners have taken to their heels,” Jamu said.

“Though we did not make any arrests today, we are not discouraged. This cat-and-mouse game will not deter us. We are more determined than ever to rid Taraba State of the scourge of illegal mining.”

He added that the task force was strengthening intelligence gathering in Gangtu and other identified mining hotspots across the state, while plans were underway to deploy more personnel and increase patrols to prevent the return of illegal operators.

Jamu also revealed that the task force would collaborate with local vigilantes and community leaders to create a stronger early warning system capable of detecting and stopping illegal mining activities before they escalate.

Meanwhile, the abandoned mining equipment and makeshift structures discovered at the site are being documented, with plans to destroy them to prevent their reuse by illegal miners. He warned that anyone caught attempting to retrieve or operate the abandoned equipment would face arrest and prosecution.

The task force chairman urged residents of Gangtu and surrounding communities to continue providing credible information on illegal mining activities, stressing that community support was crucial to protecting the state’s natural resources.

“We cannot win this battle alone. The people of Taraba are the true custodians of our natural resources, and we need their active participation to protect these resources from being plundered,” he said.

The Anti-Illegal Mining Task Force maintained that operations would continue across Taraba State, warning illegal miners that fleeing security raids would not shield them from eventual arrest and prosecution.