Nigeria closes illegal gold mine in National Park
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A military operation in Nigeria’s Gashaka-Gumti National Park dispersed over 4,000 illegal gold miners, following years of escalating tensions and the deaths of two park rangers.
The Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation supported the National Park Service and military in shutting down the mining site at Kila in July. Authorities filled the mining pits with bulldozers, but acknowledge the miners may return due to ongoing economic hardship.
The closure of the mine impacted the livelihoods of miners and local communities who relied on the gold trade for income, including traders and food sellers. Some former miners have sought work elsewhere in Nigeria or in neighboring Cameroon. ANI and the National Park Service are attempting to address the root causes of illegal mining by supporting farming, livestock, and education initiatives in the area. However, sustaining the closure remains a challenge.
A 2025 study showed many residents would stop illegal activity if alternative income sources were available. The park, created in 1991, is a vital habitat for the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee and contains a high number of unique plant and animal species, making its protection a priority as global leaders discuss biodiversity conservation.
