Alia warns Benue communities against illegal mining, insecurity

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia. CREDIT: State government

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has urged traditional rulers and residents to take active steps to tackle insecurity and curb illegal mining activities threatening communities in the state.

Alia made the call on Monday during a town hall meeting in Adikpo, Kwande Local Government Area, as part of his statewide thank-you tour of federal constituencies.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying Alia urged traditional rulers to intensify efforts to maintain peace and discourage youths from engaging in criminal activities.

Alia said traditional institutions remained important to the state’s security architecture because of their closeness to the people and ability to detect threats early.

“Traditional rulers are strategically positioned to identify emerging threats, provide useful intelligence and help prevent criminal activities before they escalate,” Alia said.

He specifically warned against the sale of ancestral lands for illegal mining, particularly gold and other solid minerals, saying the practice was damaging the environment and contributing to insecurity in parts of Kwande.

“Protect your ancestral lands and reject activities capable of compromising the collective security of your communities,” the governor told the stakeholders.

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Alia also commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the establishment of the 5th Division of the Nigerian Army in the state, saying it would strengthen security operations and improve coverage across Benue.

He disclosed that Army units would be established in Adikpo and Anwase to boost security presence and response to emerging threats.

The governor, however, said military deployment must be complemented by cooperation from residents, traditional rulers and other community stakeholders.

He added that his administration would continue to implement programmes aimed at reducing hardship, creating opportunities for young people and improving the wellbeing of residents.

Alia further disclosed plans to engage some of the individuals who contested against him in the 2023 governorship election in a roundtable dialogue aimed at promoting peace, unity and peaceful coexistence in the state.

Meanwhile, stakeholders from the Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency endorsed Alia and Tinubu for second terms, citing the governor’s appointments of indigenes, support for local government autonomy and development projects across the constituency and the state.