Illegal miners wreaked irreversible damage to Taraba — Gen Faransa

The Chairman of the Taraba State Taskforce on Illegal Mining and Deforestation, Gen. Jeremiah Faransa, alleged on Monday that the activities of illegal miners have caused irreversible damage to the state.

According to him, Miners operating in Taraba were more like criminals out to destroy the state’s mineral resources.

“What we have seen in the field is terrifying. For instance, Miners have excavated Akwana on both sides so that if there are any security threats, the people will be at extreme risk because there is no escape route. We have to correct this trend because those miners are not from here and have no issue destroying the land just to get what they want and leave.

“The situation is similar to that of the Ogoni Land, which is destroyed, and the Zamfara, where mining activities have created insecurity at an unbearable level.

Either the right thing is done or the battle line is drawn. We are not stopping investors in any sector, but due process must be followed to ensure environmental protection and people’s safety.

“You are supposed to refill the land for up to 80% after excavation, but this is not followed. Community development is also not done, contrary to the set guidelines.

This is our state. What is the state benefiting from these activities? Billions have been taken out of the state with nothing accruing to the state. This must stop. We must make sure that things are done right; otherwise, it won’t be business as usual.

“Most of the children who are supposed to be in school are turned miners because they offer cheap labour. The risk is that we are unconsciously grooming criminals, as we have seen in other parts of the country.

Taraba State is the home of mineral resources. There is nothing you are looking for that you cannot find in Taraba. In fact, most homes are sitting on huge treasures.

The Chairman denied allegations that the committee stole some of the items they recovered from the Miners, stating that “as a committee, we didn’t take even a pin. We didn’t even see gold.

“In Mayo Seni, the company continued with their activities, despite the order from the state government. We caught the company still excavating. So we arrested them and recovered over 32, 000kg of Blue Sapphire.

So far, more than a hundred illegal miners have been arrested and prosecuted. The problem is that the prisons are filled, so we only take the ring leaders and foreigners to send to Court”, He disclosed.

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