Adamawa seeks security collaboration to curb illegal mining

Credit: NAN

The Adamawa State government seeks security collaboration to curb illegal mining. The government, accordingly, appealed to security agencies in the state to collaborate in tackling illegal mining activities across the 21 local government areas.

The Commissioner for Mineral Resources and Development, Ibrahim Haruna, during a courtesy visit to the security agencies, on Wednesday, in Yola, emphasized the need for such collaboration.

The Commissioner and his entourage visited the Adamawa State Police Command, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Department of State Services (DSS).

The Commissioner reiterated the need for collective efforts to safeguard the state’s natural resources, describing illegal mining as a threat to environmental safety and a sabotage of the state’s revenue generation.

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The Commissioner highlighted, “The police are responsible for maintaining law and order, and we seek your support in conducting security checks on illegal mining operations in our communities.

“The global shift from hydrocarbons to mineral resources has drawn unlicensed individuals into the sector.

“Adamawa is richly endowed with mineral resources and it is our collective responsibility to protect it for the benefit of our people and the development of the state.”

The Commissioner of Police, Morris Dankombo, commended the delegation and underscored the importance of a secure environment for sustainable development.

The CP assured: “for internal security, we are duty-bound to create an environment conducive for businesses to thrive.”

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Dankombo expressed concerns over the proliferation of unregulated mining activities, often carried out by individuals without proper certification.

“One of your core mandates as a ministry is to supervise mining activities and ensure environmental safety.

“Unfortunately, some individuals bypass due process, secure approvals from traditional leaders in the communities and operate without proper documentation.

“Also, where ever mining occurs, there is often a high risk of criminality.

“Therefore, it is critical that we work together to eliminate illegal mining for the good of the state,” he stated.

Dankombo assured of the command’s commitment to collaborate with other security agencies to sanitize the mining sector in the state.

Also, the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Idris Bande, lauded the visit and emphasized the importance of protecting mineral resources as critical national assets.

Bande pledged the support of the corps to the ministry to curb illegal mining activities in the state.