By Emmanuel Awari,Jalingo
Illegal mining in Taraba State is driving a surge in banditry and kidnappings, according to General Jeremiah Faransa (Rtd.), Chairman of the Taraba State Special Taskforce Committee on Environmental Protection and Public Safety.
In a briefing with journalists in Jalingo, Faransa disclosed that illegal miners, many of whom are foreigners with expired visas, are contributing to rising insecurity in the region.
“Illegal mining is assisting banditry and kidnappings in many parts of the state,” he said. Faransa noted that many illegal miners carry drugs and weapons, worsening the state’s security challenges.
The taskforce chairman revealed that over 22 forest reserves have been devastated by illegal mining activities, contributing to environmental degradation and accelerating desert encroachment.
“Global warming is right here at our doorstep,” Faransa warned, adding that Taraba risks severe desertification if the issue remains unaddressed.
Faransa expressed frustration over the violations by mining operators, noting that numerous companies are operating with expired licenses or without adhering to regulatory fees.
The taskforce has detained several foreign nationals from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and China involved in illegal mining, and these individuals have been handed over to the mobile taskforce court for prosecution.
He also criticized the extensive environmental damage left by these operations, pointing out that little to no effort has been made to restore the mined lands.
The chairman called on the state government to implement a tree-planting campaign to counteract the environmental destruction, stating that without such measures, the region could face dire environmental consequences within the next five years.
Addressing deforestation related to charcoal production, Faransa highlighted the taskforce’s recent crackdown on trucks transporting charcoal out of the state.
“We can’t stand by as charcoal merchants from Abuja jeopardize our environment,” he stated, noting that valuable economic trees are being cut down unsustainably for charcoal, impacting the state’s ecosystem.
Faransa clarified that while the state does not oppose local charcoal use, it will not tolerate indiscriminate logging for profit. According to him, some trees are cut down without any replanting efforts