Benue State, generally known as Nigeria’s meals basket, is quick changing into a hotspot for priceless minerals like lithium, zinc, iron, fluorite, lead and gold, a few of which play a significant position within the transition to renewable vitality.
However beneath this rush for sources lies a path of insecurity, deaths, deforestation, and environmental spoil. Farmlands are shrinking, houses are displaced by armed teams, water sources are poisoned, and native communities are paying the value with their well being and, in some excessive instances, lives.
The story of 70-year-old Moses Tyar, whose son, Vincent Kananfe, was buried alive in a collapsed mining pit, is one in all many tragic penalties of unregulated mining within the state.
Buried alive
On the morning of 15 November 2024, Mr Kananfe, a 28-year-old native miner in Tombu Ward, Emblem Native Authorities Space, visited his father earlier than heading to work at a close-by mining web site within the Ayilamo neighborhood. Ayilamo in Benue North West borders Akwana within the Wukari Native Authorities Space of Taraba State. The village is roughly 227 kilometres from Makurdi, the state capital.
Mr Kananfe had plans to excavate sand for the development of his home that week.
“He handed over his one-year-old little one to us earlier than leaving,” Mr Tyar recalled. “He left on his bike, waving, as he mentioned, ‘So long.’”
By 11 a.m., the household’s world got here crashing down. A distressed caller knowledgeable Mr Tyar that Mr Kananfe had been trapped in a mining pit collapse. His elder brother, Avalumun, who was with him on the web site, recounted the horrifying second. “We seen the pit was not correctly excavated. Kananfe even mentioned he didn’t really feel protected working there. As we have been about to climb out, he pointed at an enormous rock and mentioned, ‘It seems like that stone is shaking.’ Earlier than he might escape, the boulder crashed down on him.”
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Avalumun mentioned he heard solely two faint ‘hums’ earlier than silence enveloped the pit. “I waved my hand over his face, however he was gone,” he informed PREMIUM TIMES, breaking down in tears. Hours later, Mr Kananfe’s lifeless physique was exhumed after the rock was blasted.
Denied closure
Looking for solutions, Mr Tyar went to the mining web site however was met with hostility. “I used to be stopped by males who seemed like safety personnel. They informed me I couldn’t see the place my son died as a result of the pits have been too harmful. ‘In the event you go inside, you’ll die,’ they warned me.”
“They introduced his physique residence and began digging his grave. The subsequent day, 16 November, we buried him.”
Mr Kananfe’s spouse, Mmenshima, stays in a state of shock. “She hardly sleeps since her husband died,” mentioned Mr Kananfe’s mom, Mbaidoove. “We now have taken her to completely different hospitals, however nothing has helped. Each night time, she wakes up screaming – ‘it’s not taking place’ – ‘it’s not taking place.’” When requested about her husband, Mmenshima might solely weep uncontrollably.
A value on life
The mine the place Mr Kananfe died is owned and operated by a Chinese language-owned firm, Longriver Mining Nigeria Restricted.
The corporate extracts fluorite, lead, zinc, and iron – minerals crucial for a variety of business purposes – from its mines within the state. Fluorite is extensively utilized in metal manufacturing and chemical manufacturing; lead and zinc are important for batteries, galvanising, and electronics, whereas iron stays a foundational materials for development and equipment.
The corporate allegedly provided the grieving household ₦100,000—roughly $67—as compensation for Kananfe’s loss of life.
“That was all they gave us,” Avalumun informed PREMIUM TIMES.
In January, this reporter visited Mr Kananfe’s father, Mr Tyar, in his village in Tombu, Gaambe-Tiev, barely two months after Mr Kananfe’s loss of life. Grief hung closely round him, evident in his slumped shoulders and his face lined with deep wrinkles.
Seated on the entrance of his small, thatched hut, Mr Tyar stared blankly on the blood-stained chisel – the identical software Mr Kananfe was holding when the pit collapsed on him. He mentioned his son’s loss of life has plunged him into unimaginable struggling.
“My son was my spine. He offered for the household and took care of his youngsters. I relied on him for all the things. Now that he’s gone, I’m left struggling to take care of his youngsters. The N100,000 compensation they gave us is lengthy gone. Generally, his youngsters cry with me, however I’m helpless. I might search justice, however I don’t even know the place to start out.”
Longriver retains mum on Ayilamo Tragedy
Regardless of repeated efforts, the Managing Director of Longriver Mining Nigeria Restricted, recognized as Mr Lau, didn’t reply to particular questions relating to his firm’s operations in Ayilamo neighborhood, the loss of life of Kananfe, and the reported N100,000 compensation provided to the sufferer’s household. Calls and messages despatched to him went unanswered for a number of weeks.
Mr Lau had earlier informed this reporter that he had suspended mining operations in Benue following a state authorities ban on mining actions within the state.
The frenzy for mineral wealth in Benue has come at a steep price, and Mr Kananfe’s loss of life isn’t an remoted incident. Thirty-five-year-old Sughter Gyase has been working in mines since 2020. “I initially labored as a stone excavator in mining pits earlier than I realized blasting,” he mentioned. “My work was to set some chemical compounds and light-weight them up for the stones to blow up.” The pits, like many others throughout the area, yield fluorite, lead, zinc, and iron.
On 22 November 2023, Mr Gyase was making ready for a routine blasting operation. “I completed establishing the chemical compounds and linked the wiring to the battery. I moved a protected distance away and waited, however nothing occurred inside the stipulated set time. As I used to be about to method the location to test if the connection was defective, I heard a loud explosion. The subsequent factor I knew, I awakened within the hospital hours later, unable to see with each eyes.”
Mr Gyase is now a one-eyed man as a result of accident.
Earlier than the explosion, Mr Gyase labored with a person named Kenneth, whom he mentioned was working with Chinese language miners. Following the accident, Kenneth compensated Mr Gyase with ₦30,000 (about $20).
“He (Kenneth) gave me 30k. My household needed to elevate practically ₦1 million to cowl my medical payments. After I began recovering, I went to the mining web site to talk with Kenneth about my situation, however he ran away,” he mentioned. “He refused to fulfill with me. Anytime he heard I used to be round, he would disappear. I acquired drained and stopped going to the location.”
Life turned the other way up
Mr Gyase’s life has not been the identical for the reason that accident. “His accidents left him unable to work, and his mind was partially affected,” mentioned his elder brother, James. Farming—his earlier technique of survival—is now not possible. “I’m now unstable. I used to be presupposed to be going to the hospital, however I not have cash. I now rely upon my household for meals and clothes.
“Ladies now keep away from me as a result of I’m a one-eyed man.” Mr Gyase mentioned.
His spouse has since left him. “She left me with three youngsters to care for. I battle day by day to outlive with out a livelihood,” he mentioned together with his head down.
This reporter tried to contact Kenneth by way of cellphone, however another person answered. A Truecaller verification revealed that Kenneth had deserted the quantity, which the community supplier reassigned to a brand new person. There was no different technique to attain him.
Father’s anguish
For Byer Azenyi, a 60-year-old grandfather, the loss of life of his 30-year-old son, Terngu, on 15 November 2021, stays a deep wound that refuses to heal. The ache is much more insufferable as a result of Terngu’s spouse had given beginning simply seven days earlier than he was killed in a mining pit collapse in Anyiin, an area city in Emblem Native Authorities Space of Benue State.
Mr Azenyi recalled the heartbreaking second he acquired the decision that his son had been trapped. “Earlier than I arrived on the web site, that they had already taken his physique to the mortuary,” he mentioned, his voice laden with grief. “The Chinese language mining firm gave a person recognized as Anicha ₦200,000 and purchased a casket for me to bury my son. That was all.”
The loss has upended his life. “I’ve three youngsters, however Terngu was my proper hand. He took care of me, his spouse, and his youngsters. Since he died, I’ve suffered a lot. Paying my grandchildren’s faculty charges and feeding them has been a battle. We used to farm collectively, however now I’ve nobody to assist me,” he lamented.
Wrestle for justice
When requested if he had sought justice, Mr Azenyi shook his head. “The place will I search justice? I don’t even know who these Chinese language persons are,” he mentioned. “My son’s loss of life has solely introduced me struggling. Looking for justice would solely add to my troubles. I’m only a peasant farmer; I don’t have the facility to struggle for justice.”
He added that the continuing farmer-herder disaster had made his state of affairs worse. “If my son have been alive, issues would have been completely different. He would have helped me survive these troublesome occasions. However now, I’m left to battle alone.”
Rising tensions
Chinese language corporations or companies linked to them should not the one ones culpable for rights violations at Benue’s mining websites. Some wholly-owned Nigerian corporations are additionally culpable.
Peter Penda, a resident of Tse Wan-Nagh in Mbagber Ward, Emblem Native Authorities Space of Benue State, has witnessed firsthand the devastation mining actions have dropped at his neighborhood.
In September 2024, a miner recognized as Salmanu visited Tse Wan-Nagh and informed Mr Penda and his household that he had found strong minerals on their land. “He informed us he would extract the minerals and, in return, construct a college, present potable water, and assemble a hospital for us,” he recalled.
Based on him, Salmanu introduced an settlement and satisfied the neighborhood leaders to signal. “He mentioned he would make photocopies and provides us a replica, however we by no means noticed our copy,” Mr Penda mentioned.
As soon as mining started, the neighborhood sought to succeed in Salmanu, however he reportedly ignored their calls. “We known as him a number of occasions, however he by no means responded. Then, armed bandits stormed our village and compelled us out,” Mr Penda narrated.
Regardless of the neighborhood’s displacement, mining operations pressed on. “Over 20 vehicles of minerals have been carted away from our land,” he mentioned. “The dug-out pits stretch throughout two hectares, and practically 4 hectares of forest cowl have been cleared.”
Mr Penda mentioned the mining actions additionally destroyed folks’s homes locally. “Our homes have cracked as a result of blasts. Our timber have been destroyed. We will’t farm anymore.”
Residents compelled out however miners keep
Mr Penda and his household fled after bandits invaded the neighborhood and killed a number of villagers. But, some miners remained. “They arrive and kill a few of our relations, however they by no means hurt the miners. Whereas we’re pushed from our land, the miners proceed extracting minerals in the identical neighborhood,” he mentioned.
He additionally described how mining operations poisoned native water sources. “Our youngsters saved falling unwell. The miners drill water from pits, and it contaminates our streams and rivers. We will not drink from them.”
Plea for motion
In January, when this reporter visited Mr Penda, he was residing with a few of his family members in a cramped, makeshift shelter in Mchia, a small city in Gaambe-Tiev. Displaced from his residence, he sleeps on a worn-out mat in a thatched hut with a door made from sacks.
“I strongly consider the killings are linked to the minerals in our land,” he mentioned.
He urged authorities to carry Salmanu accountable for his unfulfilled guarantees and to deal with the worsening insecurity. “The federal government should act. Why can’t we entry our land, but others are mining it? One thing is basically incorrect.”
Salmanu speaks
This investigation revealed that Salmanu Hussaini, the proprietor of Salmanu Mining Firm – a well known miner- hails from Akwana, a neighborhood in Wukari Native Authorities Space of Taraba State. This reporter interviewed Salmanu to ask about his position within the ongoing mining in Tse-Wan-Nagh.
Salmanu confirmed finishing up mining actions in Mr Penda’s neighborhood and in addition confirmed that he had agreements with residents to offer important infrastructure.
“I did three agreements with them—the college, the hospital, and water,” he acknowledged. Nevertheless, he mentioned not one of the tasks had materialised on account of insecurity.
“I tried to do it, however the state authorities banned mining actions in Benue. That’s why I couldn’t proceed.”
Salmanu mentioned he has halted operations on his mine, and any mining happening there now’s unlawful. “Some persons are doing unlawful mining, however I refused to affix them as a result of my firm is authorized, and I observe authorities procedures.”
He, nonetheless, mentioned he stationed some officers to safe the location. “I made some shops inside the neighborhood. The lads you noticed on the bottom are there to guard my properties. I’ve two to 3 folks staying there,” he acknowledged.
He mentioned his firm was registered with the federal authorities however admitted it was not registered with the Benue State Authorities.
“I didn’t register with the Benue State Authorities as a result of, on the time I used to be mining, there was no state company mandating miners to register,” he claimed.
Checks on the Mining Cadastral Workplace of Nigeria’s Ministry of Mines and Metal Improvement affirm that Salmanu Mining Firm is duly registered and holds a legitimate license to function within the space the place the incident occurred.
When requested whether or not an environmental impression evaluation was carried out earlier than mining started, Salmanu claimed he had completed one. Nevertheless, when pressed for particulars, he struggled to offer specifics.
“I invited folks to go there for evaluation, however they refused due to insecurity,” he mentioned.
Who advantages from unlawful mining in Benue?
The Benue State Authorities introduced a ban on all mining actions on 22 March 2024.
Nevertheless, regardless of the ban, mining actions are nonetheless ongoing in lots of components of the state and the Benue authorities nonetheless earnings from it.
Salmanu informed this reporter that the Benue State Authorities collects ₦1 million per truckload of minerals extracted from the Akwana neighborhood.
“We’re paying Benue State ₦1 million per truck,” he mentioned.
When requested who within the state authorities acquired the funds, Salmanu mentioned the cash was paid immediately into the federal government’s account. “Earlier than your truck can transfer, it’s essential to pay ₦1 million to the Benue State Authorities account,” he acknowledged.
Salmanu defined that the Benue authorities solely restricted mining, not the transportation of minerals.
“Two issues are taking place: the federal government banned mining, however the identical authorities permits folks to maneuver their supplies. They mentioned, ‘We banned mining, however in case you have supplies, you possibly can transfer them,’” he mentioned with fun.
He admitted that this loophole inspired extra unlawful mining. “So long as they’re gathering ₦1 million per truck, persons are mining,” he mentioned.
Authorities Silent on Findings
Efforts to acquire an official response from the Benue State Authorities on the findings of this investigation have been unsuccessful. A number of calls to the Commissioner for Info went unanswered, and a go to to his workplace yielded no consequence. His secretary, Ogbu Maria, informed this reporter that the commissioner was unavailable for remark.
Equally, the Government Secretary of the Bureau of Stable Minerals, Stephen Uta, who oversees the state’s mining affairs, declined to reply. Repeated calls to his cell phone weren’t answered, and whereas he learn textual content messages despatched to him by way of WhatsApp, he didn’t provide any response.
A flawed system?
The Chairman of the Miners Affiliation, Benue State Chapter, John Tersugh, admitted that unlawful mining was ongoing within the state however mentioned his members weren’t concerned in any ongoing mining operation.
“If unlawful mining continues to be happening, I’m not able to speak about it as a result of we, the authorized miners, have suspended all mining actions, together with my very own web site,” he mentioned.
When requested about compensation for people killed or injured in legally working mines, as uncovered on this investigation, Mr John mentioned he was unaware of such incidents.
“Actually, I’m not conscious of any deaths or accidents ensuing from mining operations,” he informed PREMIUM TIMES. “However like each different occupation, mining comes with its personal hazards.”
Requested about efforts by the Miners Affiliation to make sure its members adjust to related rules, Mr Tersugh mentioned:
“Unlawful mining has critical implications, even by way of income. The state has misplaced 13 per cent of its anticipated income on account of these actions. Lately, we requested all authorized miners to submit their licences to the Bureau of Entrepreneurship and Wealth Creation for documentation.”
This reporting was accomplished with the assist of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Improvement as a part of the Centre for Investigative Journalism’s Open Local weather Reporting Initiative.
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