The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has urged Kogi youths to pressure community leaders to stop protecting illegal miners operating in the state.
Alake made the call on Thursday while receiving members of Concerned Kogi Youths Against Environmental Degradation at the ministry.
The youths had protested against alleged environmental degradation linked to mining activities in parts of Kogi State.
According to the minister, illegal mining in Kogi remains a major concern for the Federal Government.
He thanked the protesters for supporting the ministry’s campaign against illegal mining.
Alake also assured them that the government was deploying technology and strengthening the Mining Marshals to intensify enforcement.
The minister recalled that Kogi was among the areas that attracted early attention from the Mining Marshal initiative.
He said the first operation involved removing illegal miners from an area covered by licence 19325.
The licence belongs to North-South Extractive Industries in Yagba East Local Government Area.
Alake said several committees led by permanent secretaries had also visited Kogi to investigate complaints about mining activities.
According to him, investigations showed that many illegal miners were not foreigners.
Rather, he said, some were indigenes operating illegally with support from community elders, traditional rulers and local government officials.
“The Marshals have aided many companies to expel illegal miners and prosecute them. Between March 2024 and August 2026, the mining marshals identified 374 illegal mining sites.
“To date, 108 of such sites have been cleared. We have arrested 743 suspects; we are prosecuting 165 cases involving 430 accused persons. So far, we have secured five convictions.”
The minister said illegal mining was hurting legitimate mining companies.
He explained that illegal miners extract minerals without paying licensing fees or royalties.
He warned that the government would intensify efforts against the operators and their collaborators.
Alake urged the protesting youths to take the government’s message back to their communities.
“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 added that technology deployment and the consolidation of the Mining Marshals would make it increasingly difficult for illegal miners to evade enforcement.
The minister was represented at the meeting by senior ministry officials, including the Director of Mining Inspectorate, Engr. Imam Ganiyu, and the Director of Mining Environmental Compliance, Dr Vivian Okono.
Speaking for the protesters, the coordinator of Concerned Kogi Youths Against Environmental Degradation, Comrade Isaiah Davies Ijele, said the demonstration was intended to draw attention to environmental problems in Kogi East.
He specifically cited communities in Ankpa and Omala Local Government Areas.
Ijele alleged that some mining operations were being conducted without compliance with environmental and regulatory requirements.
He said the activities had contributed to damaged roads, destroyed farmland, polluted water sources and worsening living conditions.
The group called for investigations into mining operations across Ankpa and Omala.
It also urged the ministry to deploy the Mines Inspectorate and Mining Marshals to enforce regulations and shut companies found violating the law.
Responding, Dr Okono said the ministry was compiling a list of mining companies that had defaulted on their Community Development Agreements.
She said the names would be published soon, alongside other penalties for non-compliance.
