The heat that radiates in Kamfanin Zurak, a mining community in Bashar district of Wase local government area of Plateau State is intense. Even in the rainy season, many attribute the excruciating heat to the severe damage done to the environment as a result of years of mining activities. The water itself is contaminated, causing liver and skin diseases among the people, the District Head of Bashar, Ali Adamu told newsmen.

Attesting to these claims, the Acting Chairman, House of Assembly standing committee on Environment and Solid Minerals, James Dakas, who is also a Geologist, said the weather in the area is an indication that the people in Kamfanin Zurak are living on a time bomb.

Wase local government area, alongside 11 others in Plateau State, has become a beehive of mining activities for both locals and foreigners who scramble to excavate lead, zinc, tin and other minerals. But unlike other mining locations where illegal miners, mostly locals have made their marks, the Chinese, using sophisticated equipment and even rail lines have settled in comfortably in Kamfanin Zurak. Though the community was established by miners, high deposits of lead and zinc ore have today made Wase the most sought-after local government for mining by mostly Chinese expatriates.

N5b worth of solid minerals are said to be excavated monthly from Kamfanin Zurak, alleged Plateau state Governor, Simon Bako Lalong on Monday. Such a staggering figure is why the average man in Plateau State has in the past revolted against the Chinese. But while some dislike the foreigners for digging into Plateau’s treasures, others say the expatriates have taken mining to a new level, as well as provided job opportunities.

Therefore, Monday’s declaration to shut down a mining site at Kamfanin Zurak came with mixed reactions. Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi, and the National Security adviser, Mohammed Babagana Mongonu accompanied by Lalong bundled some Chinese and Nigerians working with Solid Unit Nigeria Limited to Abuja for interrogation. Fayemi had described them as illegal miners and ordered the arrest of famous Nigerian miner and chairman of the company, Abdullahi Adamu popularly called Dan China.

It was probably the first time the Plateau State government had taken a stand and invoked federal might on alleged illegal miners. For many in Wase, it was cheery news as the locals in Kamfanin Zurak had in June revolted against the miners on allegations that they have failed to provide them with social amenities as earlier agreed.

But few days after the Monday declaration, questions arose as to whether the company in question was victim of a power struggle. Information gathered by ViewPointNigeria indicates that the particular mining site is considered the ‘juiciest’ as it is said to contain the most mineral resources in the entire area, and which powerful politicians have since been eyeing. Top political insiders in the state revealed that some government officials and federal legislators with mining licenses have expressed interest in the area.

This is especially since the federal government’s declaration came shortly after the Plateau State standing committee on environment and solid minerals which has been investigating a petition on mining in the area declared the company’s operation in Kamfanin Zurak legal.

Dakas, who is the acting chairman of the committee and represents Mangu South constituency told ViewPointNigeria that though mining was under the exclusive legislative list, the committee had investigated a petition by the company in which it had been asked to stop work in the area. He said documents presented to the committee by Dan China had showed that he was operating legally.

Solid Unit Nigeria Limited also hit back through its spokesperson, Suleiman Adamu, by saying their documents which they described as genuine were issued by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

Adamu also explained that despite payments, the mining lease has not been issued by the ministry.

The Governor’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Simon Emmanuel Nanle told newsmen that Lalong’s only interest in the matter was to ensure that the environment is not degraded, with whoever was operating in the area duty-bound to cater for host communities.

After the Kamfanin Zurak closure, many have turned their attention to other mining sites in Gimbi, Kadarko district of Wase, the only other sites where foreign miners operate. But locals in Gimbi say the miners, unlike the case in Kamfanin Zurak, have provided communities with hospitals, schools and roads.

Shafi’i Sambo, a youth leader from Kampanin Zurak told newsmen that despite mining for over 10 years, the foreigners had been exploiting communities with only a block of class rooms, which is yet to be completed. “The Chinese miners were living a few killometers from the locals and have 24-hour electricity, water and road networks within their locations while the local are left yawning, without water, electricity or schools.”

Whether or not the miners in Kamfanin Zurak have been operating illegally, one certain thing is that their activities have provided employment for several locals. Dakas advised that the Federal Government must handle the case well, to ensure that those found to be licensed are allowed to return, while those operating illegally face the law. But District Head of Bashar, Adamu, disagrees, saying from the initial stage, most of the labourers employed by the mining companies are not indigenous to Plateau State.

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Still on the closure of Plateau’s ‘juiciest’ mining site at Zurak – Wase LGA