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.

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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.”

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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.”

The ADC Deputy Chairman said reports of foreigners infiltrating troubled areas across the country made it necessary for the government to carry out a comprehensive security assessment before any expansion.

He warned that “if not properly regulated, mining activities could create an avenue for bandits, illegal miners, criminal financiers, arms traffickers and smugglers to establish footholds in Jigawa.”

“Jigawa cannot afford to create another avenue through which criminal networks, illegal miners or other security threats could gain access to our communities,” Jidawa said.

He cited the experiences of Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna States as clear examples of how unregulated mining attracted criminal elements and fueled banditry, kidnapping, extortion and mineral smuggling.

According to him, Jigawa’s comparative peace is a strategic asset that must be protected through preventive action, not by waiting until criminal networks become entrenched.

📰 Source: Punch Nigeria