Alia asks Kwande traditional rulers to help curb illegal mining

Governor Hyacinth Alia has asked traditional rulers and residents in the Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State to take a more active part in tackling insecurity and illegal mining in their communities.

He spoke at a town hall meeting in Adikpo during a statewide tour of federal constituencies, according to a statement issued by his chief press secretary, Tersoo Kula. Alia said traditional institutions were close enough to residents to detect emerging threats early, provide intelligence to security agencies and discourage young people from joining criminal groups.

The governor was specific about mineral extraction, warning against the sale of ancestral land for illegal gold and solid mineral mining. He said the practice was damaging the environment and contributing to insecurity in parts of Kwande, and asked communities to reject activities that compromise their collective safety. Kwande, on Benue's eastern edge, has both mineral deposits and a history of armed incursions, and unregulated mining sites elsewhere in Nigeria have drawn armed groups that tax or seize production.