The Spokesperson to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources on the fight against illegal mining, Mahmud Kabore, has cautioned illegal miners not to be deceived by spiritualists who claim to offer “juju” protection against bullets from security operations.
Speaking on Oyerepa Radio during a discussion on the government’s anti-galamsey efforts, Mr. Kabore dismissed myths surrounding supposed supernatural powers, locally referred to as “Bansere”, which some miners believe can shield them from arrest or harm.
“A lot of these things are superstitious,” he said. “Has any Forestry Commission officer testified that they shot someone and the bullet did not penetrate? He asked”
Mr. Kabore revealed that several arrested galamsey operators were found wearing these alleged protective charms, yet none demonstrated any form of invincibility.
“I have videos of people arrested with ‘Bansere’ still on them. There are no powers in that,” he emphasised. “These are distractions meant to weaken the fight, but as far as NAIMOS is concerned, there is nothing like ‘Bansere’.”
While noting that he is both a traditionalist and a religious person, Mr. Kabore stressed that such beliefs hold no relevance in the context of law enforcement.
“I believe in supernatural powers, but in the fight against galamsey, there is nothing like shooting someone and the bullet not penetrating,” he said. “In any case, the government has not authorised us to shoot anyone, and we have never encountered anything of that sort.”
He warned illegal miners who continue to rely on spiritual fortification to think twice, stating that state authority supersedes any claim of magical powers.
“If you believe in your ‘Bansere’ and allow a mallam to deceive you, and you enter the forest, we will deal with you. There is no force greater than state power,” he cautioned.
Mr. Kabore added that the government has introduced cooperative mining schemes to provide young people with a lawful alternative to illegal mining.
“The young people still want to mine, and that is why we have brought cooperative mining. You don’t need magic for cooperative mining. It is something you can do without fearing arrest,” he concluded.
