By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – The Cross River State Government has raised alarm over the growing influx of illegal miners across its forest reserves, revealing that more than 5,000 illegal miners have invaded parts of the state in the last three years.
Chairman of the State Taskforce on Illegal Mining, Prince Paul Effiong, disclosed this on Friday in Calabar while confirming the recent arrest of over 40 suspects in a forest within Akamkpa Local Government Area.
Effiong said the illegal miners have been operating in Biase, Yakurr, and Akamkpa LGAs, including sections of the Cross River National Park, in search of gold and other precious stones. According to him, many of the invaders are heavily armed and originate from Northern Nigeria and the Sahel region.
“The past three years, over 5,000 illegal miners have invaded communities like Biase, Yakurr, and Akamkpa, including parts of the Cross River National Park, in search of gold and other precious stones. Many of them are heavily armed and originate from Northern Nigeria and the Sahel,” Effiong said.
He explained that the activities of these unauthorised miners have posed a major security and environmental threat to the state, as several forest belts have been degraded while criminal elements continue to infiltrate communities under the guise of mining.
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Effiong noted that the state government has intensified efforts to combat the menace, with more than 60 suspects arrested within the past three months alone — including 40 apprehended recently in Akamkpa forest and 20 others arrested earlier in August across Yakurr LGA and Uyanga forest.
He reaffirmed that the government remains committed to ending illegal mining and protecting its natural environment from further exploitation.
“We will not allow lawless individuals to destroy our land for selfish gain. All mining operations in Cross River must comply with environmental and legal standards,” Effiong declared.
The Taskforce Chairman further appealed to residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious movements, warning that some infiltrators might attempt to gain the trust of community leaders before engaging in criminal or terrorist activities.
Effiong assured that all arrested suspects will face prosecution, adding that the state will continue to pursue aggressive enforcement to secure its forest reserves and mineral deposits.
