The body of an illegal miner has been found after reportedly drowning near a gold mine.
By: Patrick N. Mensah, Maryland County
Rivergee, Liberia; July 10, 2025 –A 32-year-old man identified as Fred Moses, commonly called Kolokolo, who reportedly drowned at a local gold mine in River Gee County, has been found.
The situation occurred on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, after the late Fred Moses reportedly fell into an abandoned gold pit in Joquiken, one of Rivergee’s major gold mines.
The deceased was a Marylander, but resided in Fishtown, Rivergee, as one of the familiar figures in the mining community.
Family sources say the deceased had worked in the Joquiken goldfields for over four years, describing him as a hardworking and dedicated miner who led Jalloh’s mining crew.
However, the family revealed that the late Moses had suffered epilepsy but regularly took his medication, and occasionally consumed alcohol.
Relatives, including Mr. Moses Youty and Mr. Amos T. Sunday, disclosed that Moses had been brought from Maryland to live and work in Joquiken. They confirmed his long-term employment under Mr. Jalloh, noting that he managed his health despite the risks.
They narrated that the deceased had gone to bathe near the pit at the goldfield when he experienced a seizure and fell into the water unnoticed.
His death has once again raised concern about growing danger of unregulated and abandoned gold pits, which continue to pose threats to miners and residents in gold-producing regions.
The deceased’s body was turned over to the family for burial, pending further investigation by the Liberia National Police.
Meanwhile, Rivergee County Superintendent, Mike T. Swengbe, has issued a directive to end illegal mining in the county amid growing concerns about practices that harm the environment and adversely affect the local economy, including death.
Superintendent Swengbe’s directive is in response to several consequences associated with illegal mining, emphasizing that local authorities will not tolerate actions that damage the natural resources of Rivergee County.
He stated that all perpetrators would face strict legal punishment, while calling on relevant bodies, including the Ministry of Mines and Energy and local security forces, to enhance monitoring and verification efforts at mining sites to ensure compliance with legal standards.
Supt. Swengbe specifically condemned the use of “dragging,” an unauthorized and destructive mining technique that severely damages riverbanks and surrounding ecosystems. He highlighted the urgency of apprehending individuals who engage in this harmful practice.
The Superintendent’s directive aims to restore order in the mining sector and protect Liberia’s natural resources for future generations. He has assigned people to monitor and ban unlawful mining activities that affect both the county, and the country at large. Editing by Jonathan Browne
