Residents of communities surrounding Christ the King College (CKC) in Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have raised the alarm over the activities of suspected illegal miners operating in the area.
The residents are complaining of an ongoing excavation, believed to be in search of gold.
They said the activities has led to the destruction of land plots and posed serious safety risks to nearby houses.
Large portions of land have reportedly been dug up without environmental controls, leaving deep pits that threaten both infrastructure and public safety.
A resident of Sunrise Estate, Gwagwalada, Mr Peter Eze said the houses around the area has cracks and may collapse in near future, if nothing is done by the government to stop the hazards.
“One of the houses near my property already has cracks due to the mining activities. Some buildings are gradually becoming unsafe for habitation. If this continues, more houses could collapse,” he said.
Mrs. Hadiza Musa, a community leader in Gwagwalada also warned that the situation could worsen during the rainy season, with the numerous unregulated pits increasing the risk of flooding.
“These excavations are not just unsightly; they are dangerous. Heavy rain could wash away entire sections of land. We fear for our children and elderly,” she said.
Mr. Emmanuel Okoro, chairman of the CKC Residents Association emphasised that the federal government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, has been called upon to investigate the situation and enforce regulations guiding mining operations in the country.
“If there are indeed mineral deposits here, the government should establish a regulated and structured mining process,
“This would allow the community and the country to benefit economically while protecting the environment and public safety,” Okoro stated
Mr. David Leke, one of the miners in the area, defended the actions, saying they are simply trying to earn a livelihood.
“We are not trying to cause harm. All we want is to provide for our families. We appeal to authorities to consider formalizing artisanal mining rather than shutting us down completely,” he said.
However, the Gwagwalada Area Council has assured that it will investigate the matter once an official report is submitted
