Uke, Nasarawa State, June 1, 2026 — A quiet stretch along the Keffi expressway in Nasarawa State, popularly known as Uke, is widely recognised by travellers as a roadside relaxation spot offering fish delicacies, palm wine and brief rest stops for commuters.
Many motorists describe the area as a convenient break point during long journeys. A regular traveller on the Jos–Abuja route, Mike Uja, said he often stops there to unwind.
“I usually leave Jos early on Sundays just to relax here, enjoy palm wine and fish,” he said, adding that he had introduced several others to the spot.
However, beneath this calm roadside image lies a rapidly expanding mining activity that has transformed parts of the community into an informal extraction hub attracting both local and foreign miners.
Residents and visitors say the area has become increasingly difficult to access, with outsiders often met with suspicion and hostility. Attempts by reporters to investigate the site were reportedly met with resistance from miners, with access only granted through intermediaries after informal payments.
Community members allege that the mining boom is bringing growing social tension, environmental damage and rising insecurity concerns. Farmlands are said to be shrinking as excavation expands, while fears grow over the long-term impact on livelihoods.
Some residents also accuse miners of exploiting vulnerable young girls in surrounding communities, allegedly offering money and mobile phones in exchange for sexual relationships. There are further claims that some school-age girls have abandoned their homes for mining camps.
A resident, Hassan Aminu, expressed concern over what he described as a worrying social trend.
He said some young girls were increasingly drawn into relationships with miners in exchange for material benefits, noting that peer pressure and lifestyle competition were worsening the situation.
Another resident, Samson Mekiki, claimed that even students from tertiary institutions were being lured into mining settlements during evening hours.
Observers also say many of the miners are non-indigenes, including nationals from other West African countries, and that tensions with locals have increased due to cultural differences and perceived disregard for community norms.
Some residents fear that Uke could experience insecurity similar to that reported in other mining-affected areas within the state, where uncontrolled extraction has been linked to violence and environmental degradation.
A community member, Sale Adamu, said many locals feel abandoned and worried about the future of their farmland.
He warned that continued unchecked mining could leave communities without arable land and expose them to further security risks, calling for stronger government intervention and clearer policies to protect host communities.
Concerns over mining practices were also raised at the legislative level, where lawmakers and civil society groups have called for environmental audits, review of mining agreements, and possible sanctions against operators found violating regulations.
The Chairman of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly Committee on Environment, Adamu Omadefu, said findings from oversight visits to mining areas revealed troubling conditions in some communities.
He alleged that residents in affected areas were being treated unfairly and called for urgent reforms to ensure better protection and benefit sharing.
Civil society organisations, including environmental advocacy groups, have also urged government authorities to tighten oversight, revoke licenses where necessary, and ensure proper regulation of mining activities.
State authorities, however, say efforts are ongoing to address illegal mining through enforcement actions, community engagement and collaboration with federal agencies.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Margaret Elayo, said the government had intensified inspections, shut down non-compliant sites and strengthened inter-agency coordination to curb illegal operations.
Environmental reports and advocacy groups continue to warn that unregulated mining in parts of Nigeria has led to severe environmental damage and loss of lives over the years, particularly in states such as Niger, Plateau and Zamfara.
Experts and civil society actors argue that while mining has economic potential, weak regulation and illegal operations continue to expose communities to exploitation, environmental degradation and safety risks.
Stakeholders are therefore calling for stronger cooperation among government agencies, traditional rulers, security forces and local communities to ensure that mining activities are properly regulated and benefit host communities rather than harm them.