The Taraba State Mobile Court on Environmental Protection has sealed an illegal gold and diamond mining site at Garin Jatau village, Iware, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area.
The operation was carried out on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, by the specialized court established by Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas.
The mobile court also ordered the arrest and remand of three suspected group leaders. Investigations revealed that many of the miners were from outside Taraba State, including some foreign nationals.
The illegal miners had recently regrouped in the area after being flushed out of other sites. They installed three heavy engines to extract gold and diamonds, causing massive environmental damage.
The raid and subsequent sealing were executed under Executive Order No. 5 of 2023 (Environmental Protection, Public Safety, and Prohibition of Deforestation) and Executive Order No. 6 of 2026 (Protection of Host Communities).
This enforcement is part of a larger, state-wide campaign led by the Taraba State Anti-Illegal Mining Task Force.
In the weeks leading up to this raid, authorities also shut down major illegal gold fields in Mayo Kam (specifically the Gidan Boss and Gidan Star sites) and Gangtu village in the Bali Local Government Area.
Local residents have strongly supported these closures, citing severe destruction to farmlands, pollution, and increased community insecurity.
