Indigenous Rights and Resource Extraction in Taraba State: The Case of Artisanal Mining Communities

This study investigates the rights of indigenous and local mining communities in Taraba State, Northeast Nigeria, against the backdrop of growing artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) activities and federal resource extraction policies. Taraba State hosts significant mineral deposits, including gold, lead, and zinc, whose exploitation has intensified in recent years. The research examines the applicability of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, and Nigeria's Solid Minerals Development Fund Act to the situation of mining communities in Wukari and Jalingo local government areas. A qualitative research design utilizes focus group discussions and key informant interviews with community leaders, artisanal miners, environmental activists, and officers of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. Findings reveal that affected communities lack meaningful consultation prior to the award of mining licenses, are denied equitable access to royalties and resource benefits, and suffer environmental damage without adequate remediation. The study argues that Nigeria's failure to domesticate UNDRIP obligations results in systematic rights violations for affected communities. The research recommends legislative reform to require free, prior, and informed consent processes for all mining activities, equitable revenue-sharing arrangements, and independent environmental monitoring. Keywords: indigenous rights, artisanal mining, Taraba State, resource extraction, UNDRIP.