The African Democratic Congress, Jigawa State chapter, has warned that the state government’s plan to expand mining operations could erode the relative peace in the state and create a fresh opening for banditry, kidnapping and ransom-related crimes.
The party said that at a time of prevailing insecurity and economic hardship nationwide, pushing for more mining without strong security safeguards could expose Jigawa communities to new and dangerous threats.
It was gathered that the position of the party followed the recent inauguration of the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee, MIREMCO, by the state government to drive solid mineral development and boost revenue.
In a statement issued and made available to journalists in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, on Thursday by the Deputy State Chairman of the ADC, Ambassador Nuraddeen Jidawa, said, “The party cautioned the government against inadvertently opening a new security frontier in a state that has remained relatively peaceful compared to other North-West states.”
Jidawa’s statement reads that, “While the objective of formalising mining and improving revenue generation was laudable, security must come first before opening up mineral-bearing areas.”
