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From John Adams, Minna
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has raised the alarm over the resurgence of illegal mining activities in Niger State, warning that another tragedy could occur unless urgent measures are taken to curb the activities of miners allegedly forcing residents out of their homes.
The warning comes in the wake of the deaths of 34 miners while in NSCDC custody, an incident that has sparked concerns over the operations of the security agency and the need to rebuild public confidence in its activities.
The new NSCDC Commandant in Niger State, Abdulhamid Salisu Kabara, raised the alarm on Tuesday during a familiarisation visit to the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, in his office.
Kabara said that despite the recent tragedy, illegal miners had regrouped and resumed operations in large numbers, particularly around Minna, the state capital, where their activities were increasingly threatening the safety of residents.
According to him, some of the miners had resorted to intimidation and force, compelling residents to abandon their homes to make way for mining activities.
He warned that the situation had become increasingly dangerous, describing it as another time bomb waiting to explode if the authorities failed to intervene.
“They now use force to chase the people from their homes for their activities,” the commandant said.
“The situation now is that they feel they are above the law. There is the need for an urgent step towards addressing the current situation.”
Kabara called on the Niger State House of Assembly to consider enacting legislation to curb illegal mining, stressing that the continued operations of unauthorised miners posed serious threats to lives, property and public safety.
He acknowledged that he was assuming office at a difficult time for the command, particularly following the deaths of the 34 miners in NSCDC custody, an incident he described as unfortunate and avoidable.
The commandant, however, assured the Speaker that his administration would prioritise professionalism, discipline and strict adherence to established operational procedures to prevent a recurrence.
He said NSCDC personnel must conduct themselves in accordance with their rules of engagement and uphold the Corps’ responsibility to protect lives and property.
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“There must be observance of the rule of engagement in our operations. There must be discipline and commitment among the personnel because internationally, Civil Defence is known to rescue people, save people and cater for them. That is what they must do now,” he said.
Responding, Sarkindaji assured the new commandant of the Assembly’s support in addressing the security challenges confronting the state, but stressed that rebuilding public confidence in the NSCDC must be a priority following the deaths of the miners.
The Speaker said the incident had created a serious challenge for the Corps, making it imperative for its leadership to restore public trust and strengthen relations with residents.
“You need to do a lot of work towards rebuilding the confidence and cementing the relationship between the service and the people. This is very important as you settle down in your new posting,” he said.
Sarkindaji also assured Kabara that the cordial relationship established between the Assembly and his predecessor would be sustained and strengthened.
“Nothing has changed. We will improve on it. Anytime you need us as an institution, we are there for you,” he said.
On the commandant’s request for legislation to prohibit illegal mining, the Speaker acknowledged the constitutional limitations facing state governments, noting that mining falls under the Exclusive Legislative List and is primarily regulated by the Federal Government.
He, however, maintained that the state’s limited legislative authority over mining did not mean its institutions should remain helpless in the face of activities threatening the lives and property of residents.
“I don’t want to say that our hands are tied when it comes to mining activities because mining falls under the Exclusive List, but we will not say that as a state, we will just fold our hands without doing anything,” Sarkindaji said.
He argued that communities also had legitimate interests in activities taking place on their land, stressing the importance of obtaining community consent before mining operations commenced.
“It is not a reason for us to say it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to handle mining. If the Federal Government will handle it at the top, it has given us the right of ownership because you can’t commence mining activities in the state, and on my site, without the community consent,” he said.
The Speaker pledged the Assembly’s commitment to working closely with the NSCDC and other relevant authorities to tackle illegal mining and improve security across the state.
He assured the commandant that the legislature would continue to provide the necessary institutional support to enable the Corps to discharge its responsibilities effectively.
