Metro
Niger: Ministry of Mineral Resources decries involvement of community leaders in illegal mining
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The Niger State Ministry of Mineral Resources has uncovered multiple irregularities at mining sites, including encroachment cases currently under investigation and widespread illegal mining activities allegedly carried out in collaboration with some community leaders.
The State Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Hon. Muhammad Qasim Danjuma, disclosed this during an inspection of mining sites at Zuzungi in Katcha Local Government Area, where he reiterated the state government’s zero-tolerance policy on illegal mining.
During an interactive session with traditional rulers, community leaders, and mining operators, Danjuma warned that the ministry would engage its internal committee to review the findings and subsequently invite the affected communities for discussions, stressing that appropriate sanctions would be imposed where necessary.
He also revealed that a mining company, Millennium Metals, was found to be operating under a different name from the one used during its profiling with the ministry, describing the situation as suspicious and potentially conflict-generating.
Hon. Danjuma debunked claims by some operators that they had partnerships with the Niger State Government, noting that no such records exist and describing the claims as fabrications.
The commissioner emphasized the administration’s determination to ensure full regulatory compliance, environmental protection, and the welfare of host communities in line with the New Niger Agenda.
He disclosed that the ministry had limited prior information about the scale of mining activities at the Zuzungi site before the visit, noting with concern that numerous mining operations were ongoing without evidence of a Community Development Agreement (CDA).
He described the CDA as a mandatory requirement following the issuance of a federal mining licence and a critical component of social responsibility expected of any mining company before commencing operations.
“Unfortunately, we did not observe any sign of CDA implementation such as schools, electricity projects, healthcare facilities, boreholes, or other community impact developments. The absence of such initiatives was deeply disappointing,” the commissioner stated.
Hon. Danjuma further emphasized that significant efforts are required to reposition and revive the mineral sector in Niger State in alignment with the vision of His Excellency, Farmer Governor Mohammed Umar Bago.
He called on all stakeholders to set aside personal interests and work collectively towards the economic liberation and sustainable development of the state.
“Niger State is abundantly blessed with vast mineral resources. If these resources are carefully and judiciously harnessed, they will unlock enormous opportunities, generate employment, and drive development. It is unfortunate that the personal interests of a few stakeholders continue to obstruct the government’s mission,” he said.
He appealed to stakeholders and residents of Niger State to support the governor’s transformative agenda by allowing the Ministry of Mineral Resources to operate independently, without interference, to generate revenue that can fund critical infrastructure, reduce criminality, and alleviate extreme poverty across the state.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Tijani, has ordered a statewide clampdown on vehicles plying Lagos roads without number plates or with concealed registration marks, warning that offenders would be arrested and their vehicles impounded with immediate effect.
The directive, according to Fatai, formed part of measures to strengthen security architecture and prevent criminal elements from infiltrating the state through unregistered vehicles.
The CP gave the order during a strategic meeting with Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, DPOs, and Commanders of Tactical Units at the Officers’ Mess, Ikeja, yesterday.
He briefed the officers on resolutions from a recent conference with the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, and outlined new security measures to tighten security across Lagos.
According to Tijani, “The Inspector-General of Police emphasised the need to ensure that all vehicles plying the roads in the country have their plate numbers on them. On no occasion should anybody put a vehicle on the road without a plate number or with a covered plate number. If anybody is found driving such a vehicle, that vehicle will have to be impounded.
He observed that “Most of the vehicles being used by these criminals are either not registered at all or have their plate numbers covered. Apart from those genuinely permitted by law to cover their plate numbers, there are no other exceptions”.
CP Tijani also directed all DPOs to intensify community policing and intelligence gathering at the grassroots, stressing that effective security requires active collaboration between the police and residents.
He further disclosed that the command would sustain joint patrols and intelligence-sharing with other security agencies, particularly in border communities and along waterways, to forestall the movement of criminal elements into Lagos.
Assuring residents of the command’s readiness to tackle emerging threats, Tijani said , “ Lagos Police Command had maintained a strong intelligence network and would continue working closely with transport unions, community leaders and other stakeholders to keep the state safe. Our goal is to ensure that Lagos remains secure and that criminal elements find no space to operate.
Suspected gunmen have abducted a cleric with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), identified as Pastor Gbenga Sanny, in Ondo State.
It was gathered that Sanny was seized by three gunmen on Sunday evening in the presence of his children.
Sources who confirmed the abduction to The Nation on Monday said the incident occurred at about 7.00 p.m in front of his residence located at Ilu-Abo community in Akure North Local Government.
Sanny, who is also a staff of the Akure North Local Government Area of the state, was taken to an unknown destination by the attackers.
His wife reportedly escaped the attack.
“The three armed men reportedly came out of the nearby bush and whisked him away,” one of the sources revealed.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the police command, Jimoh Abayomi said investigation has been launched into the abduction case.
He stated that officers and tactical teams of the command have already been mobilised to the area and working to secure the safe rescue of the victim and apprehend those responsible for the crime.
A man was carried away by floodwaters at Christian Village in the Greater Accra Region on June 7, 2026, during a heavy downpour.
The victim, a father of four, reportedly slipped into a gutter while helping colleagues desilt it, and despite rescue efforts, the strong current swept him away.
Recounting the incident in a video shared by Ask Media on social media on June 8, 2026, eyewitnesses said the incident occurred while the victim and three others were clearing a heavily clogged drainage system to improve water flow during the rains.
The area is known to flood whenever there is heavy rainfall, prompting residents to regularly engage in desilting exercises.
One eyewitness said the victim lost his footing during the exercise and fell.
“He slipped and fell into the river while we were removing debris. I tried to hold him by his collar, but I couldn’t keep hold of him. The current was too strong,” the eye witness recounted.
Despite immediate attempts to rescue him, he was swept away by the raging floodwaters and has since gone missing.
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