In Zamfara State, local officials and former governors are deeply entangled in the illegal gold mining industry, contributing to the region’s lawlessness, according to an investigation by Truth Nigeria.
The vice-chairman of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Ado Adamu, disclosed that influential politicians and village chiefs facilitate illegal mining by securing federal permits under false pretenses and pressuring local miners.
Despite a federal ban on mining in Zamfara to curb related violence, ex-governors have been accused of forming bogus companies to exploit the State’s resources. One former governor, now a federal minister, reportedly coerced miners into handing over their sites under threat of confiscation. Complaints from local miners about unfair deals and mine seizures have gone unanswered by the implicated officials.
According to Ado Adamu, “For every Chinese arrested for illegal mining, there are Nigerian politicians and village chiefs behind them. I can tell you that politicians and village chiefs are responsible for illegal mining in Zamfara State. It is in the law that no one can come to the State and prospect for minerals without the consent of the community, through its chiefs.
“The politicians who are already in possession of the details and areas where mineral deposits are found would always furnish the foreigners with all the necessary information and then urge the village chiefs to give approval for the foreigners to commence mining activity without the consent of the villagers”, Adamu reportedly told TruthNigeria.
Zamfara’s reputation as a ‘go-to’ State for mineral theft has been covered in broad contours by the Nigerian media, but forensic study of how the theft is arranged are rare. Also rare are prosecutions of those accused of engaging in illegal mining activities in the State.
The States Auditor-General revealed how the former governor of Zamfara State engaged into illegal mining despite the presidential order banning all forms of illegal mining in the State during his administration. The Governor allegedly floated companies that were involved in illegal mining despite the Federal Government ban on mining.
Adamu, who was also the past chairman of the Zamfara State Association of Gold Buyers and Sellers for ten years, revealed how the Federal Government unknowingly aided politicians in illegal mining activities.
Politicians who are normally armed with letters of recommendation from State governors where gold or solid minerals are mined would approach the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals for special permits, and once the permits are given, the illegal activities commence in earnest, according to Adamu.
Then, the politicians would approach merchants who have mines but could not work them due to the Federal Government’s ban on mining. “At times, the mines are simply worked on without the approval of the owners,” Adamu said.
Though Adamu refused to divulge the names of those he thought to be behind illegal mining in Zamfara, Dr. Usman Hamisu Balami (a miner in Anka area) told Truth Nigeria that former governors in the state were involved illegal mining.
Truth Nigeria staff in Zamfara reportedly tried to contact Zailani Bappa, the media spokesman to former Governor Mutawalle, but there was no response.
Similarly, attempts to reach the former governor’s media spokesman and other officials for comments were unsuccessful.
