Residents of a community in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have raised the alarm over the influx of hundreds of suspected illegal miners, warning that the development poses a grave security and environmental risk.
In videos obtained on Monday, many people were seen moving to the location, while others were digging the ground with shovels and bagging unidentified materials.
A resident, who spoke to the media, said the situation is unfolding in an area located after Zampo Plaza in Gwagwalada, describing the atmosphere as tense.
“We do not know exactly where these people are coming from. Some claim they are from Zamfara, while others say they are from Niger. They were brought here under the impression that there is a gold deposit in the area,” the source said.
The presence of the miners has quickly become a menace to the community, with fears mounting over potential criminal activity and the environmental hazards of unregulated mining.
Residents said soldiers had been alerted but expressed concern that the situation was spiralling out of control.
“This is a danger to people’s lives, not just because of the environmental and health impact of their activities, but also because the arrival of so many strangers is creating a serious security threat,” the source added.
Also a civic tech organisation, MonitNG, posted about the situation.
“Heavy machinery is tearing into the land, causing massive destruction. The entire area is being degraded at an alarming rate, with deep pits and piles of debris left behind,” the organisation said.
The mining activities have also completely destroyed the main road residents use to access their homes, leaving many stranded or forced to take dangerous alternative routes.
“This is not just an environmental disaster but also a direct attack on the right of residents to access their own properties. The dust, noise, and movement of heavy trucks have disrupted the peace of the community and made life unbearable,” Monitng added.
Children are no longer able to play safely outdoors, while elderly residents struggle to cope with the disruption.
According to the platform, “the excavation is destroying vegetation, threatening underground water sources, and leaving the land scarred beyond repair. There is no sign of any proper environmental assessment, safety measures, or government supervision.”
Residents fear the damage will be permanent if the mining continues unchecked. “The people behind this mining must be identified, investigated, and held accountable for the destruction they are causing,” Monitng stated.
The organisation has called on the Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, Senator representing the FCT Ireti Kingibe, and the Nigeria Police Force to intervene urgently.
“We are calling on Wike, Kingibe, and the Nigeria Police Force to urgently intervene. This activity must be stopped immediately, and steps must be taken to restore the land and ensure such incidents never happen again,” it said.
Monitng emphasised that Abuja should not become “a lawless zone where mining operations spring up overnight in the middle of residential communities.”
Authorities are urged to protect the lives and properties of Gwagwalada residents and safeguard the environment.
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