An investigation by AfriCast has revealed that residents of the M.I Wushishi Housing Estate in Minna, Niger state, remain at risk despite a recent attack by illegal miners that left one person dead and properties destroyed. The illegal miners, who are reportedly backed by registered mining companies and some authorities, continue to operate unchecked, perpetuating insecurity and violence in the community.
The attack on the estate, which occurred on September 2, 2024, was reportedly carried out by illegal miners who were angered by the community’s resistance to their activities. Despite the police intervening briefly, the illegal miners continue to operate, using alternative tracks to access their mining sites.
Residents of the community have expressed concerns about the lack of response from authorities, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which has failed to act on their petitions about the proliferation of hard drugs in the community.
Security experts have attributed the rise in illegal mining activities to the lack of effective regulation and oversight, as well as the complicity of some authorities. The Nigerian Mining and Geoscience Society (NMGS) has also expressed concerns about the security implications of illegal mining activities.
The Niger state government has granted mining rights to some registered companies, but residents of the community have alleged that these companies do not follow standard procedures and instead use illegal miners to extract minerals.
The police have assured that normalcy has been restored to the area, but residents remain skeptical, citing the lack of arrests and prosecutions. The community is calling for increased security presence and effective regulation of mining activities to prevent further attacks and insecurity.
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