Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, has identified illegal mining as a major driver of insecurity in the state, citing it as the key reason behind his decision to sign an Executive Order suspending all mining activities.
Speaking during a media parley at the Government House in Jos, where he presented a two-year stewardship report, Mutfwang said Plateau’s abundant mineral resources, rather than boosting the economy, have become a source of conflict. He alleged that bandits, with the backing of sponsors supplying them with sophisticated weapons, are forcibly taking control of mining sites after displacing local communities.
βThese criminals sack entire communities with mineral deposits and then take over illegal mining operations to fund their violent campaigns,β the governor said.
Defending the Executive Orderβwhich has drawn criticism for allegedly targeting small-scale minersβMutfwang said the intent is to regulate the sector and protect legitimate operators from exploitation.
He described mining as a vital economic sector that, if properly managed, could generate significant revenue for the state and attract credible investors.
The suspension, according to Mutfwang, is temporary and meant to allow a government-appointed committee to develop a regulatory framework that would ensure transparency, safety, and equitable benefits from the mining sector.
He emphasized that insecurity in mineral-rich areas is often tied to deliberate efforts by criminal elements to displace residents and seize control of resources.
Governor Mutfwang vowed that his administration would not stand by while indigenous communities are driven from their ancestral lands for illegal mining operations.
