Artisanal miners in Zawan and Bukuru, both in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, have blamed the recent rise in criminal activities on the proliferation of illegal tin mining across the state.
Speaking in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, the miners said abandoned and unregulated mining sites had become safe havens for criminal gangs responsible for theft, armed robbery and kidnapping.
A miner with more than 15 years of experience, Abel Dung, said mining activities were previously well-organised, with operators working under valid licences.
“Today, illegal miners have taken over abandoned pits, and at night, those same places are used by thieves and kidnappers,” Dung said.
Similarly, Paula Pam expressed concern over the growing influx of undocumented non-indigenes into illegal mining sites, warning that the trend had made it more difficult for security agencies to monitor those operating in the area.
“These illegal operators don’t care about community safety. That is why they leave behind open pits that are now used as criminal dens in the state,” she said.
Also speaking, Dongs Chollom, a representative of artisanal miners in Zawan, urged the Plateau State Government and mining regulatory authorities to intensify efforts to eliminate illegal mining operations.
He also called on traditional rulers and security agencies to profile everyone working at mining sites across Jos South as part of measures to tackle the worsening insecurity.
According to NAN, communities in Jos South, particularly the Bukuru and Zawan axis, have witnessed a spike in cases of theft, armed robbery and kidnapping in recent months, with many of the incidents reportedly linked to abandoned mining sites.
