Former presidential aide and lawyer, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, has disclosed that there are powerful foreign interests colluding with traditional institutions, local communities, and influential individuals to perpetuate illegal mining in many communities in Yakurr LGA of Cross River State.
The problem of illegal mining has also been reported in Biase, Akamkpa, and Obanliku Local Government Areas, with reports of heavy illegal gold mining activity as far back as 2023.
Local sources have noted that there are over 10,000 illegal miners in Yakurr LGA alone, more than half of whom arrived in the last three months.
At a security summit last week, the senior state security adviser, Major General Obono Ubi (retd), gave the illegal miners five days to evacuate from the communities and forests.
In a statement titled “Illegal Mining in Cross River State: A Call to Action”, Obono-Obla noted that “there has been an unabated influx of illegal miners and their cohorts from the Sahelian region into Cross River State’s Yakurr Local Government Area”, lamenting that it has been disconcerting.
“These foreign nationals, aided by Nigerian collaborators, have settled in towns like Ugep, Ekori, and Nko, receiving accommodations and hospitality that enable them to blend in and evade authorities.
“Powerful illegal syndicates, backed by foreign interests, have infiltrated Cross River State, exploiting its resources and engaging in money laundering, human trafficking, and potentially terrorist financing. These crimes are inextricably linked, destabilizing communities and undermining national security.
“It’s implausible that individuals from Mauritania, Mali, Niger, and Chad could traverse thousands of kilometers, navigating Nigeria’s rugged terrain without internal assistance.
“The Nigerian Immigration Service and security agencies must take decisive action now,” he stated.
He lamented that lawmakers from the state in the National Assembly have been conspicuously absent, despite mining, immigration, and security falling within their legislative purview.
He stated that, as national parliamentarians, they should be at the forefront of addressing the crisis in their state.
Obono-Obla called on the state government to declare a state of emergency and take proactive measures to engage national authorities.
He said there are heavy security implications regarding their presence.
“The presence of illegal miners and their cohorts from the Sahelian region raises concerns about national security, particularly with regard to terrorism and banditry,” he said.
