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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia, has inaugurated the initial 30 mining marshals to curb illegal mining of solid minerals across the state.
The Federal Government had last month launched the “Mining Marshals” for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) and directed all state commands of the Corps through the State Government and the Mineral Resources and Environment Management Committee, (MIREMCO), to reciprocate same. Inaugurating the marshals before the leadership and members of the MIREMCO and NSCDC in Makurdi on Friday, the governor, represented by his deputy, Dr Sam Ode, said the Mining Marshals in conjunction with MIREMCO are to, among other objectives, “promote, project, and defend the interests of the people of Benue and the affairs of the state in general, mostly as pertains to illegal mining activities and the promotion of lives and property around areas of mining.”
He observed that Fidelis Mnyim, the Chairman of MIREMCO, has the core mandate and responsibilities of projecting the image and interest of the Benue Mining Industry nationally and internationally, and supporting the state to actualize set objectives and goals in the sector to enhance development.
He charged those inaugurated to secure Benue’s collective assets in areas of solid minerals, amongst others. He noted that some illegal mining sites have been identified and would be manned by the newly created Mining Marshals to curtail the activities of illegal miners.
