BYM Demand Revocation of Mining Lease ML-129 in Jos South, Accuse Holder of Harassment

Our Reporter

The Berom Youth Moulder-Association (BYM) has called for the immediate revocation of Mining Lease No. ML-129, allegedly issued to Mr. Joshua Egbagbe for a mining site in Latya community, Du District, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The group made the call at a press conference held on Tuesday, September 30, 2026, at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Jos.

The BYM said that while it acknowledges that mineral resources are vested in the Federal Government under the Constitution, the law does not extinguish the rights of lawful landowners and host communities, including requirements for land access, community consent, environmental obligations, compensation and execution of a Community Development Agreement (CDA).

According to the association, the controversy dates back to Mining Lease No. ML-126 associated with Mining Technologies Company Limited, owned by Russian investors who explored the area in 1997 under a four-year agreement with the community that elapsed in 2001.

The BYM said a petition dated September 20, 2016, was filed before the Minister of Mines and Steel Development against renewal of the lease while a case over the land was pending at the High Court and Court of Appeal in Jos. In a reply dated October 13, 2016, the Ministry allegedly directed that action be stayed pending determination of the case.

The youth group alleged that despite the pending litigation, Mr. Egbagbe covertly obtained a new title, ML-129, which subsumed the same disputed land without revocation of ML-126, without community consent and in abuse of court process.

“The mining laws are clear that even if a person has a valid mining lease, community consent must first be established before entering the host community, and a Community Development Agreement must be signed. In this case, the reverse is the case,” the BYM stated.

The association further alleged that Mr. Egbagbe has carried out mining activities for twenty-nine years without executing any project for the community and has resorted to using the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to intimidate, arrest, detain and arraign community members.

The BYM said several petitions have been written to federal and Plateau State mining authorities demanding revocation of ML-129 without result, and questioned the authenticity, validity and subsistence of the lease.

The group also faulted Mr. Egbagbe for allegedly refusing to appear before a committee set up by the Plateau State Government in 2025 to screen and verify all mining leaseholders after the statewide shutdown of mining activities due to insecurity.

The BYM condemned the recent deployment of police and civil defence personnel to shut down the Latya mining site, alleging it was not backed by any court order or directive from the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development or the Mining Cadastre Office, but at the instance of Mr. Egbagbe under the claim of illegal mining.

The group questioned the justification for the deployment, alleging that community members were being pressured to surrender a percentage of mining proceeds as a condition to return to the site.

It therefore demanded that the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, the NSCDC Commandant and the Plateau State Government investigate who requested and authorized the deployment, its purpose, whether there was a court order, and whether it was at the request of Mr. Egbagbe.

The association demanded immediate release of unlawfully detained community members, an end to intimidation and harassment, restraint on the use of security agencies to settle mining disputes, and that any criminal allegation against community members be independently investigated.

It also called on the Attorney-General of the Federation and that of Plateau State to take over and discontinue cases instituted against community members at the instance of Mr. Egbagbe where they lack legal foundation.

Among its prayers, the BYM demanded immediate revocation of ML-129 by the Mining Cadastre Office, investigation into the relationship between ML-126 and ML-129, verification of compliance with CDA requirements, immediate withdrawal of security personnel from the site within 24 hours, and investigation and possible prosecution of Mr. Egbagbe for allegedly defying the state verification committee.

The group stressed that it remains committed to peace and does not support violence, destruction of property or confrontation with security agencies, urging youths of Latya, Du District and the entire Berom nationality to remain calm.

It, however, issued a notice of peaceful demonstration, warning that if federal and state authorities fail to revoke ML-129 within one week, it will exercise its constitutional right to peaceful assembly and protest.

“The people of Latya are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for justice, transparency, due process and the rule of law,” the BYM said.

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