The Plateau State Government has intensified efforts to curb illegal mining, leading to the arrest of over 100 miners in Jos.
Yabilsu Dogo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Mineral Development, disclosed this in Jos, stating that the ministry is working closely with the police to clamp down on illegal activities.
Dogo warned that illegal mining poses severe threats to human settlements and the environment, with land degradation being a major consequence.
He explained that indiscriminate excavation weakens the soil structure, increasing the risk of land subsidence, sinkholes, and infrastructure collapse.
He further noted that many illegal miners have lost their lives after being buried in collapsed pits, while unregulated mineral extraction continues to drain government revenue, depriving the state of much-needed development funds.