Nasarawa intensifies its crackdown on illegal mining as authorities arrest foreign nationals and Nigerians in Kokona LGA.
LAFIA, NASARAWA STATE — The Nasarawa State Government has intensified its campaign against illegal mining following the arrest of several foreign nationals and Nigerian citizens allegedly involved in unauthorized mineral extraction in Amba community, Kokona Local Government Area.
The latest operation underscores the state's renewed determination to curb illegal mining, protect its rich mineral resources and block revenue leakages that have deprived government and host communities of significant economic benefits.
Officials say investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of the suspects' activities and whether they are linked to larger illegal mining networks operating across North Central Nigeria.
Authorities disclosed that the suspects were apprehended during a coordinated enforcement operation targeting illegal mining sites in Kokona LGA.
While government officials have yet to disclose the exact number of those arrested, they confirmed that both foreign nationals and Nigerian collaborators were taken into custody for questioning.
The operation forms part of a broader strategy aimed at enforcing mining regulations, protecting licensed operators and safeguarding communities affected by illegal extraction activities.
Security agencies are also expected to investigate whether the suspects violated immigration, environmental and mining laws.
Nasarawa is widely regarded as one of Nigeria's most mineral-rich states.
The state is endowed with commercially viable deposits of:
Lithium
Tin
Columbite
Baryte
Granite
Limestone
Marble
Gold
Aquamarine
In recent years, the discovery of commercially significant lithium deposits has attracted both legitimate investors and illegal mining syndicates seeking to exploit the growing global demand for minerals used in electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy technologies.
Government officials say protecting these resources has become increasingly important to the state's economic future.
The Nasarawa State Government has repeatedly warned that illegal mining not only deprives government of revenue but also contributes to environmental degradation, insecurity and community conflicts.
Officials say many illegal operators evade taxes, ignore environmental standards and exploit local communities without making meaningful contributions to development.
The government has therefore strengthened collaboration with federal security agencies and mining regulators to identify and shut down unauthorized mining operations across the state.
Authorities insist that only individuals and companies with valid licences will be permitted to carry out mining activities.
Beyond the illegal mining crackdown, Governor Abdullahi Sule has renewed calls for a review of Nigeria's revenue allocation formula.
According to the governor, Nasarawa's rapidly growing population and expanding economic activities are not adequately reflected in the current sharing formula.
He argued that states contributing significantly to national economic growth deserve allocations that better reflect present-day realities and development needs.
Governor Sule has also maintained that stronger regulation of the mining sector will improve internally generated revenue while creating employment opportunities for young people.
Illegal mining has become one of the fastest-growing security and economic challenges across Nigeria's Middle Belt.
Neighbouring states including Niger, Plateau, Kogi and Kaduna have also intensified efforts to combat illegal extraction activities, particularly involving gold and lithium deposits.
Security agencies have repeatedly warned that proceeds from illegal mining are sometimes used to finance organised criminal networks, including banditry, arms trafficking and other transnational crimes.
Analysts say weak regulation, porous borders and high global demand for strategic minerals have made illegal mining increasingly attractive to criminal groups.
Host communities have long complained about the environmental consequences of illegal mining.
Residents in affected areas frequently report:
Destruction of farmlands.
Pollution of rivers and streams.
Unsafe mining pits.
Loss of agricultural livelihoods.
Rising insecurity linked to armed mining camps.
Community leaders are urging government to ensure that legitimate mining activities translate into local development through improved infrastructure, employment opportunities and environmental restoration.
As global demand for critical minerals continues to rise, states like Nasarawa are becoming increasingly important to Nigeria's economic diversification agenda.
However, without effective regulation, illegal mining risks undermining investor confidence, reducing government revenue and creating new security threats across mineral-producing communities.
The latest arrests signal the state's determination to regain control of its mining sector and ensure that its natural resources benefit both government and local communities.
Nasarawa's crackdown reflects a broader shift in how Nigerian states are beginning to view illegal mining, not merely as an environmental offence but as a serious economic and security challenge.
With lithium and other strategic minerals attracting unprecedented international interest, competition for control of mineral-rich communities is likely to intensify.
For the Middle Belt, effective regulation of the mining sector will require more than arrests. Success will depend on sustained enforcement, transparent licensing, stronger border controls and closer collaboration between federal agencies, state governments and host communities.
If properly managed, Nasarawa's mineral wealth has the potential to transform the state's economy. If left vulnerable to illegal exploitation, however, it could become another driver of insecurity in an already fragile region.
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