**Seeks Ban on Illegal Mining
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has warned that Niger State could face another security crisis over the activities of illegal miners, despite the recent incident that claimed the lives of 34 miners.
The newly posted NSCDC Commandant in Niger State, Abdulhamid Salisu Kabara, raised the alarm on Tuesday, saying illegal miners had regrouped and were operating in large numbers, threatening residents and forcing some to abandon their homes.
Kabara spoke during a familiarisation visit to the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, at his office.
He said the miners had become increasingly aggressive, allegedly using force to drive residents out of their homes to pave the way for their activities.
“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,” he said.
The commandant warned that the situation was a potential time bomb, urging the state legislature to urgently consider legislation to tackle illegal mining activities.
He said he was assuming office amid enormous challenges, particularly following the unfortunate and avoidable incident involving the deaths of 34 miners while in NSCDC custody.
Kabara, however, assured residents that his administration would prioritise discipline, professionalism and strict adherence to operational procedures.
“There must be observance of the rule of engagement in our operations. There must be discipline and commitment among the personnel,” he said.
He stressed that the Civil Defence Corps was internationally recognised for rescuing and protecting people, insisting that its personnel must reflect those responsibilities in their conduct.
Responding, Speaker Sarkindaji assured the new commandant of the Assembly’s support in addressing the security challenges confronting the state.
He said rebuilding public confidence in the NSCDC would be one of the commandant’s major responsibilities, particularly following the deaths of the 34 miners.
“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,” the Speaker said.
He also pledged to strengthen the existing relationship between the Assembly and the corps, assuring the commandant that the legislature would remain available whenever its institutional support was needed.
On the proposed legislation to ban illegal mining, Sarkindaji acknowledged that mining falls under the exclusive legislative jurisdiction of the Federal Government.
However, he maintained that the constitutional position should not prevent the state from taking steps to protect its communities.
He argued that mining activities could not commence in communities without the consent of the host communities, stressing that the state would not fold its arms while residents faced threats from illegal operators.
The Speaker assured the commandant that the Assembly would explore available avenues for collaboration and provide the necessary institutional support to strengthen security operations across the state.