HOMEF Links Deaths of 37 Young Miners to Nigeria’s Extractive Economy, Demands Independent Probe

By: Michael Mike

Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has called for an independent investigation into the reported deaths of 37 young miners in Niger State, warning that the incident highlights the human and environmental consequences of Nigeria’s reliance on mineral extraction.

The environmental advocacy organisation said the deaths, involving young people reportedly aged between 14 and 20, should trigger a broader examination of the economic conditions pushing youths into hazardous mining and the environmental costs of the country’s extractive development model.
The miners reportedly died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) after security operations targeting suspected illegal mining activities in the Wushishi-Lukoto area of Niger State.

Although the circumstances and causes of the deaths remain subject to investigation, HOMEF said the incident raises critical questions about the treatment of detainees, youth unemployment, livelihood insecurity and the sustainability of mining activities.

In a statement, HOMEF Executive Director, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, said the tragedy should not be viewed exclusively as a matter of illegal mining and security enforcement, but as part of a wider crisis associated with destructive extractivism.

“We must stop treating extraction as the pathway to development while ignoring the lives, lands and ecosystems sacrificed in the process,” Bassey said.

He warned against replacing the country’s dependence on oil with mineral extraction without addressing the environmental degradation and community displacement associated with resource exploitation.

Bassey specifically cited the experience of the Niger Delta as a warning against pursuing mineral wealth at the expense of local communities and their environments.

He said Nigeria risked reproducing the problems associated with oil extraction if the expansion of mining activities was not accompanied by adequate environmental protection, community participation and safeguards for livelihoods.

“The deaths underscore the urgent need to address the poverty, livelihood insecurity and economic exclusion that push people into dangerous and informal mining, while confronting the environmental destruction associated with unregulated extraction,” he added.

The HOMEF director also cautioned that efforts to curb illegal mining should not simply pave the way for large-scale industrial operations that could create further environmental damage.

He called for a shift towards economic activities that protect ecosystems, restore damaged environments and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for communities.

HOMEF urged the Federal Government and the Niger State Government to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths and ensure accountability for any violations, negligence or other wrongdoing uncovered.

The organisation also called for measures to address the economic vulnerabilities that expose young people to dangerous mining activities, particularly poverty, unemployment and the loss of sustainable livelihood opportunities.

It demanded stronger environmental monitoring and enforcement in mining-affected communities, alongside restoration programmes and measures to hold mining operators and polluters responsible for ecological damage.

The group further called for restrictions on destructive mining practices affecting forests, farmlands, water bodies and other ecologically sensitive areas.

It said communities whose territories are targeted for mineral extraction should have meaningful opportunities to participate in decisions affecting their land and livelihoods, including determining what happens within their territories.

HOMEF also advocated investment in sustainable, non-extractive economic activities capable of reducing dependence on hazardous mining and strengthening local economies.

The incident has brought renewed attention to the challenges of regulating informal mining while protecting vulnerable workers and communities.

Illegal mining enforcement addresses one aspect of the problem, but HOMEF argued that lasting solutions must also consider the economic circumstances that drive people, including young people, into the sector.

The organisation maintained that environmental protection, decent livelihood opportunities and accountability must form part of any strategy to manage Nigeria’s mineral resources.

It said the reported deaths should serve as a reminder that economic development cannot be measured solely by the volume or value of resources extracted, particularly when communities face risks to their lives, land, water and livelihoods.

HOMEF called for a fundamental departure from what it described as an “extract, exploit and abandon” approach, advocating instead a development pathway centred on ecological protection, environmental restoration and sustainable livelihoods.

The organisation maintained that addressing illegal mining without confronting the wider consequences of extractivism would leave the underlying crisis unresolved.

HOMEF Links Deaths of 37 Young Miners to Nigeria’s Extractive Economy, Demands Independent Probe

OPEP troops foil suspected Fulani bandits reprisal attack on Jwerk Kargung village in Plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Sector 8, Sub-Sector 81, Operation Hakorin Damisa (OPEP), have foiled an attempted reprisal attack on Jwerk Kargung Village in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The incident occurred at about 8:35 p.m. on Sept. 20, 2026, following reports of sporadic gunshots around the community.

Troops deployed at Mangu Halle, alongside personnel of Operation Rainbow and Keystone Mangu Division, swiftly responded to the report and moved to the affected area.

According to military sources, the quick intervention of the troops forced the gunmen, suspected to be Fulani militias, who were allegedly attempting to attack the village, to withdraw into the bush.

The troops subsequently dominated the general area and commenced offensive operations to frustrate further criminal activities and prevent the attackers from regrouping.

Security forces are maintaining patrols around the community as efforts continue to safeguard residents and prevent further attacks.

OPEP troops foil suspected Fulani bandits reprisal attack on Jwerk Kargung village in Plateau

NIS Enrolls 8,552 Nigerians in Diaspora Passport Intervention

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Immigration Service has enrolled 8,552 Nigerians in the diaspora under targeted passport intervention exercises conducted in the United States, Canada, Qatar and the United Kingdom.

The Service said the exercises were undertaken in line with its commitment to improving passport service delivery to Nigerians abroad and under the directive of the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

According to the Service, the intervention was designed to bring passport services closer to Nigerians in various cities and was conducted in collaboration with Nigerian diplomatic missions and representatives of Nigerian communities to ensure a coordinated and responsive service delivery process.

According to a statement on Monday by the spokesman of NIS, Akinsola Akinlabi, in the United States, the exercise was held between 7th and 15th September 2026 across Chicago, Michigan and Milwaukee where 535 applicants were enrolled. In Canada, the exercise which ran from 6th to 19th September 2026 across Manitoba, Toronto, Saskatoon, Alberta and New Brunswick enrolled 2,257 Nigerians.

The exercise in Qatar which held from 9th to 24th August 2026 enrolled 751 applicants.

The exercise in the United Kingdom covering London and Manchester which has enrolled 5,099 applicants is still ongoing.

Akinsola said passport production and dispatch are being carried out concurrently with the enrolment in the United Kingdom.

The Nigeria Immigration Service advised applicants who were unable to secure appointment slots during the exercises, as well as those who may prefer not to physically visit the centres or the High Commission, to utilise the Contactless Passport Application System for their applications.

The Service reiterated its commitment to responsive and accessible passport services for Nigerians in the diaspora and to ensuring timely, efficient and convenient service delivery.

NIS Enrolls 8,552 Nigerians in Diaspora Passport Intervention