Zulum to Emirs: Tackle illegal mining before it becomes another insurgency

Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum, has warned traditional rulers in Southern Borno against the dangers of illegal mining in their communities before it turns to insurgency.

The governor, who gave the warning on Wednesday, while receiving a delegation from Southern Borno on a sympathy visit, said Borno had had enough and would not tolerate anything that could bring another crisis to the state.

“Alhamdulillah, 95 percent of Boko Haram insurgency has been reduced in Borno but if we don’t control mining in those areas it will turn into insurgency.

“We should not take the issue of mining lightly. Emirs, traditional rulers should be careful about it.

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“Forget about the little money our women and children are getting from the mining activities.

“If you allow mining to continue in those locations, you may not find areas to farm in the next 10 years. We should intensify prayers to Allah to prevent anything bad from happening to our people again,” he said.

Zulum said he though he could not completely stop mining, it must be legal, and land must not be allocated to miners without legal procedure.

“Any traditional ruler found allocating papers to illegal miners should be removed immediately,” he added.

He noted that under the law, mining is under the jurisdiction of the federal government, but with the consent of the host community.

“The FG must get the consent of the community. Who is the community? The Bulamas, Emirs, Lawans and indeed the government of the state,” he said.

Zulum also appreciated the N200 million relief fund donated to the state by the Southern Borno people and emphasized the need for more unity in diversity among people in the state.

“The most important weapon I want everyone of us to leverage is unity, because we will gain a lot from being united.

“Let us maintain the status quo, let us increase our collaboration, let’s increase the brotherhood,” he added.

In March, the commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Farouq Musa-Boyi, raised the alarm over illegal mining activities going on in Bayo LGA despite a ban by the state.

He said the illegal miners had caused environmental damage, especially in Wuyo, Jaradali and Balbaya villages.

The minerals found in Borno include Feldspar, Limestone, Kaolin, Potash, Iron-Ore, Quarts, Magnetite, Diatomite, Trona, Mica, Silica Sand, Gypsum, Granite, Flutters Earth and Uranium, among others.