Liberia: Gov’t Deploys Armed Officers to Secure Alleged Gold Deposit in Nimba County, Takes Samples for Testing - FrontPageAfrica

TAPPITA, Nimba County – The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Mines and Energy, has deployed heavily armed security officers to Doeyelay Town in Gblor Clan, District #6, Nimba County, following reports of a suspected gold deposit that triggered a chaotic rush of miners and fortune seekers.

By D. Franklin Doloquee, franklin.doloquee@frontpageafricaonline.com

Authorities say the situation escalated rapidly after residents awoke on April 3 to what appeared to be gold deposits along the Tappita–Grand Gedeh road corridor. The discovery, reportedly located along the roadside, attracted a surge of people from nearby towns and even beyond, all eager to dig and extract the mineral.

According to eyewitnesses, the rush intensified after a group of local youths collected samples and sold them in nearby Tappita and Ganta, allegedly earning enough to purchase two motorbikes. The development fueled speculation and drew even larger crowds, forcing businesses in Tappita to shut down temporarily as people flocked to the area.

One resident, Emmanuel Doe, claimed that the initial discoverers lacked knowledge of the mineral’s true value and sold it cheaply. “Our brothers had no idea about gold prices, so they rushed to business people who bought the gold for 80,000 Liberian Dollars instead of US$20,000,” he said.

Amid growing concerns over safety and unregulated mining, government officials intervened. A high-level delegation led by Assistant Minister for Planning, Research and Development Emmanuel Vaye visited the area and held a town hall meeting with residents to assess the situation and restore order.

Explaining the government’s response, Richard Manuba, Head of Communications at the ministry, said the decision to secure the site was based on both safety concerns and the illegal nature of the mining activities.

“We had a town hall meeting with the people. They admitted they found gold along the road. And some of the folks admitted that they don’t live in the place, but they came from all over to look for their blessings,” Manuba stated. “So we collaborated with the joint security and told them as we were leaving by 4pm yesterday that anybody who does not belong to the place should leave. We shut down the place because they were digging for gold and it was a form of mining. No license has been issued.”

He added that government technicians collected samples from multiple locations, which have been sent to Monrovia for laboratory testing. “We collected samples from several areas and brought [them] for testing. Full report of our findings will be published soon,” he said.

Assistant Minister Vaye emphasized that the government’s priority is to verify the authenticity of the deposit while ensuring public safety. He warned residents and would-be miners to stay away from the area until test results are confirmed.

“We don’t want anyone entering the bush until we have the test results,” Vaye cautioned, as crowds of Liberians and foreign nationals continued to gather.

The deployment of armed officers is also intended to prevent a repeat of past tragedies. In 2019, at least 40 miners were buried alive during a gold rush in Kartee Village, located about 10 kilometers from Tappita in Nimba County.

Under the leadership of Joseph Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Koung, authorities say they are taking a cautious approach—balancing public interest, safety, and regulatory enforcement—as anticipation builds over whether the discovery will prove to be a significant gold deposit.