Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has suspended all mining operations in the region through an executive order, citing links between illegal mineral extraction and escalating violence. Speaking during a recent press briefing in Jos to mark two years in office, Mutfwang described how armed groups funded by shadowy sponsors exploit mineral-rich areas, displacing communities and monopolizing resources to finance attacks.
“What should be an economic asset has become a curse,” Mutfwang said, referencing Plateau’s vast untapped deposits of tin, lead, and zinc. He detailed how militants equipped with advanced weaponry forcibly seize mining sites, terrorize residents, and funnel profits into sustaining criminal networks. The governor emphasized that the temporary halt aims to dismantle this cycle by enabling stricter oversight. A committee will devise regulations to legitimize operations, protect lawful miners from exploitation, and ensure equitable revenue sharing.
Critics had condemned the suspension as harmful to local livelihoods, but Mutfwang argued the move prioritizes long-term stability over short-term gains. “Unregulated mining robs the state and its people while empowering lawlessness,” he stated, stressing that formalizing the sector could unlock prosperity if managed transparently. Mining, he noted, remains vital to Plateau’s economic future but requires frameworks to prevent exploitation by criminal elements.
The governor linked recent clashes to deliberate strategies by armed groups to clear villages near resource-rich zones. “They attack, instill fear, and take over land that isn’t theirs,” he said, vowing to prevent further displacement of indigenous communities. While not specifying a timeline, Mutfwang assured the suspension was a temporary measure to “reset” the industry, with revised guidelines expected to balance security, environmental safeguards, and fair labor practices.
Plateau State, situated in Nigeria’s conflict-prone Middle Belt, has faced recurring communal violence and banditry, often tied to resource disputes. Analysts observe that illegal mining frequently intersects with broader security challenges, including arms trafficking and regional insurgencies. Mutfwang’s administration now faces the dual challenge of curtailing criminal networks while addressing concerns about economic disruptions to legal miners during the regulatory overhaul.
