Newspointer May 28, 2024
By Our Correspondent
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Taraba State Command has strengthened its collaboration with the Federal Mines Office Jalingo and pledged to work together alongside other security services to curb illegal mining activities as well as other crimes in the state.
This position was made known to newsmen when the Federal Mines Officer Taraba State Engr. Kutman Hosea Ali paid a courtesy visit to the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Taraba State Command today at his office in Jalingo.
In his address, the newly posted Federal Mines Officer in charge sought for the collaboration and strengthening of the existing relationship between the two Federal Agencies.
The Mines Officer told the Commandant that he had come with new strategies that will ensure only licenced miners will be allowed to operate in the state. That he would therefore, need the assistance of the NSCDC and other security operatives to actualise his plans. The plans, he said, were necessary to prepare ground for clean mining activities in the state.
Among others, Engr. Kutman said there will be a need for profiling of the miners and all those who will be working on the mining sites.
He also affirmed that his office will ensure that the mining workforce is employed from among the host communities of the mining sites as this will go a long way in ensuring that strange people with criminal tendencies do not come into the state.
Responding, the Commandant Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Taraba State Command Adamu Salihu, said he was elated to have the Federal Mines Officer in his office to discuss one of the most important mandates of the Corps.
He said mining has been one of the sources of insecurity in some states and that he commended the Taraba state government for taking drastic measure to address it headlong.
Commandant Adamu added that the new regulatory framework put in place by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development will go a long way in curbing insecurity associated with mining in the state.
He therefore assured the Mines Officer that the NSCDC which is the lead agency in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure will collaborate fully with the Mines Office to ensure that mining activities are carried out legally and without security breaches.
The Commandant further explained that with the newly trained Mining Marshals, NSCDC is combat ready to face any challenges associated with mining activities in the State.