From Lateef Taiwo
Benue State House of Assembly has condemned in strong terms illegal mining activities across the state particularly in Kwande Local Government Area of the state.
The Assembly also frowned at illegal trespass of Benue State territory by illegal foreign miners.
Speaker of the Benue Assembly Aondona Dajo who made the condemnation on behalf of the House while speaking with journalists after Friday’s emergency plenary held at the new banquet hall of government house Makurdi, said the house called on the state government to set up a committee to investigate and stop illegal mining activities going on in the state particularly in Kwande Local Government Area.
Mr Dajo also told journalists that the house also urged the Benue State Government to equally open up access roads in Moon and Liev 2 council wards of Kwande Local Government Area for easy movement and surveillance in the area.
The speaker further referred the matter to the House Committee on Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals for necessary action and called on Benue people to report activities of illegal miners to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.
Presenting a motion of urgent public importance on the floor of the house during plenary member of the Assembly representing Kwande-East state constituency Mr Samuel Mato called on the state government to investigate illegal mining activities both in Kwande LGA and other places in the state.
He further informed the house that for over five years illegal miners and some foreigners have been mining in Kwande, expressing worry that if the trend is not checked the economic, health, environmental and security implications of the illegal mining in the area might degenerate into security challenges similar to what happened in Zanfara state which he argued might be difficult to control.
Seconding the motion member representing Kwande – West Mr Thomas Dugari emphasized the need for government to take urgent steps to ensure that the situation is brought under control.
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