The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has raised alarm over the illegal mining ongoing in Borno State, News About Nigeria reports.
The State Commandant, NSCDC, Farouq Musa-Boyi, disclosed this to newsmen in the state on Saturday.
He noted that this has continued despite the ban on mining activities in the state, stating that most of the illegal mining occurs in the Bayo Local Government Area of the state, where the unregistered artisans have caused environmental damage, especially in Wuyo, Jaradali, and Balbaya villages.
Recall that the state commissioner for information and internal security, Prof. Usman Tar, made the same assertion, enjoining the public to adhere strictly to the ban.
The Borno State Government had also urged the military and security agencies to be vigilant and apprehend defaulters, maintaining that the ban on illegal mining remains active in light of the fragile security situation in Borno.
However, the NSCDC boss maintained that the various minerals in the state, including Feldspar, Limestone, Kaolin, Potash, Iron-Ore, Quarts, Magnetite, Diatomite, Trona, Mica, Silica Sand, Gypsum, Granite, Flutters Earth, and Uranium, among others, are still being mined despite the ban.
“As you are aware, the Borno government has banned illegal miners in the state and warned defaulters of dire consequences.
“Despite the ban, these illegal merchants continued to steal these resources with impunity,” he stated.
He maintained that the Corps is on the trail of illegal miners in Borno who have been defying the ban on mining activities in the state, and will clamp down on the defaulters and bring them to justice.
