RismadarVoice Reporters
September 4, 2026
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has urged youths in Kogi State to prevail on community leaders and local authorities to stop protecting illegal miners operating in their communities.
Alake made the call on Thursday while receiving members of Concerned Kogi Youths Against Environmental Degradation, who protested at the ministry over alleged environmental damage caused by mining activities in parts of the state.
The minister, according to a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Lara Owoeye-Wise, commended the protesters for supporting the government’s campaign against illegal mining.
He said the Federal Government was deploying technology and strengthening the Mining Marshals to intensify enforcement against illegal mining across the country.
Alake identified Kogi as one of the states of particular concern to the ministry, recalling that the Mining Marshals’ first operation involved the removal of illegal miners from a site covered by Mining Lease Licence 19325 in Yagba East Local Government Area.
The minister said several committees led by permanent secretaries in the ministry had visited Kogi to investigate complaints relating to illegal mining.
He alleged that investigations showed that many of those involved in illegal mining were indigenes of the affected communities rather than outsiders, adding that some operated with the support of community elders, traditional rulers and local government officials.
According to Alake, the Mining Marshals identified 374 illegal mining sites between March 2024 and August 2026, while 108 sites had so far been cleared.
He said 743 suspects had been arrested, with 165 cases involving 430 accused persons currently being prosecuted.
The minister added that the government had secured five convictions in connection with illegal mining activities.
Alake said illegal mining was also affecting licensed mining companies because illegal operators extract minerals without paying licence fees or royalties.
He warned illegal miners and those allegedly supporting them that the government would intensify enforcement through increased use of technology and the Mining Marshals.
“If, as you claim, you are Kogi youths, take this message to the stakeholders in your communities. Consult your elders. Convince community leaders and local authorities to back off and allow the machinery of enforcement to work diligently and effectively to combat illegal mining and stop the reckless degradation of our environment,” he said.
Alake was represented at the meeting by senior officials of the ministry, including the Director of Mining Inspectorate, Imam Ganiyu; Director of Mining Environmental Compliance, Vivian Okono; Director of Special Duties, Frank Odom; Director of Human Resources, Ijeoma Idika; and Commander of the Mining Marshals, John Attah Onoja.
Earlier, the coordinator of the protesting group, Isaiah Davies Ijele, said the demonstration was aimed at drawing the ministry’s attention to alleged environmental degradation in Kogi East Senatorial District, particularly Ankpa and Omala local government areas.
Ijele alleged that some mining operations in the affected communities were being conducted in violation of environmental and regulatory requirements.
He said the activities had contributed to damaged roads, destruction of farmland, pollution of water sources and worsening living conditions in the communities.
The group called on the minister to order investigations into mining activities in Ankpa and Omala and deploy the Mines Inspectorate and Mining Marshals to enforce relevant regulations.
It also urged the ministry to shut down mining companies found to have violated the law.
Responding, the Director of Mining Environmental Compliance, Okono, said the ministry was compiling a list of mining companies allegedly defaulting on their Community Development Agreements.
She said the names of defaulting companies would be published once the process was completed, alongside other sanctions provided under the law.
