Tuesday, July 14, 2026 - The Taraba State Anti-Illegal Mining Taskforce on Monday raided a suspected illegal gold mining site located in Mayo Kam and Gantu villages in Bali Local Government Council of the state, arresting two suspects and recovering mining equipment.
The operation, led by the chairman of the taskforce,
Emmanuel Jamu, followed weeks of intelligence gathering.
“Security operatives navigated difficult terrain to reach
the remote mining camp, only to discover that most of the miners had fled into
nearby forests before their arrival, leaving behind equipment and tools,” a
statement by the taskforce said.
Despite the suspects’ escape, the taskforce arrested two
individuals who were reportedly attempting to flee the scene. Officers also
recovered several items believed to have been used for illegal mining,
including pumping machines, diggers, generators, and mineral processing
materials.
According to Jamu l the taskforce would sustain its
crackdown on illegal mining across the state.
“We are here to send a clear message. Whether they are here
or not, we will keep coming. They can run today, but they cannot run
forever. They will face the full weight of the law,” he said.
He also called on traditional rulers and community leaders
to support the taskforce by providing credible information that would lead to
the arrest of suspects still at large.
The Taraba State government reaffirmed its commitment to
safeguarding the state’s mineral resources and ensuring that no illegal mining
activities continue within its territory.
The two arrested suspects are currently in custody, while
the taskforce said further operations are planned in other identified high-risk
areas across the state.
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