Benue suspends mining to combat insecurity

Please share this story:

The Benue State government on Thursday suspended mining activities in the state.

State Governor Samuel Ortom gave the directive during a meeting held with Kwande stakeholders at Government House, Makurdi.

The governor said the miners' activities had begun to pose a threat to the peace of the state.

He said the state government would set up committees at state, local government and ward levels to regulate the activities of minors.

Ortom said: "The recent events in the Kwande local government area constitute a danger and a threat to peace in the local government and the state in general, and this is due mining activities in the region.

"We know that some miners hold licenses from the federal government because it is the federal government's responsibility to issue licenses. We know that some minors do not have permits; we have foreigners and natives among them.

"Due to the danger posed by mining activities in the State, we hereby suspend all mining activities in the State, including those with licenses."

The governor advised those with licenses to register with the state Department of Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals in order to profile them.

All rights reserved. This material and any other digital content on this website may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without the prior express written permission of PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor[at]punchng.com