Nigeria Closes Major Illegal Gold Mine Near Largest National Park

Nigerian authorities have closed a major illegal gold mine operating near Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Mongabay reported on October 20, 2026. The head of the National Park Service, Ibrahim Musa Goni, announced the action, which marks a significant success for conservation efforts in the country. [1]

An estimated 4,000 miners were driven from the Kila mining area as part of the operation, according to Mongabay. The joint effort involved officers from the National Park Service alongside Nigerian security forces to clear the illegal settlement. [1]

Gashaka-Gumti National Park was gazetted from two game reserves in 1991 and is the largest national park in Nigeria, spanning roughly 6,402 square kilometres across Taraba and Adamawa provinces near the border with Cameroon. The park features savannah grassland in the north and montane forests, steep slopes, and deep valleys in the south, reaching up to Chappal Waddi, the highest mountain in Nigeria. [2]

The closure of the Kila mining site removes a substantial threat to local wildlife habitats surrounding the national park. Authorities continue efforts to safeguard the park grounds from illegal activities and protect native biodiversity. [1]