Vows crackdown on illegal mining, armed herders
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has barred traditional rulers across the state from granting mining approvals in their domains without the consent of the state government.
Alia, who spoke at a thanksgiving service organised for his Kwande Local Government Area appointees on Sunday, described the practice as unlawful and warned that his administration would not condone any form of illegal mining.
“Traditional rulers must desist from issuing mining permits without government approval. Anyone caught flouting this directive will face the full weight of the law,” he declared.
Kwande, regarded as one of Benue’s mineral-rich hubs, has in recent times attracted both licensed and unlicensed miners. The governor said his administration was determined to sanitise the sector while ensuring communities benefit from the resources in their land.
On infrastructure, Alia announced that the state government would commence new road projects in Kwande to ease the movement of people and agricultural produce.
Turning to security, the governor assured residents of continued collaboration with the Federal Government and local vigilantes to repel armed herders terrorising rural communities. He warned that any individual found aiding violent herders would be treated as “an enemy of the state.”
Alia also commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as “genuine support and love for the people of Benue,” urging politicians to prioritise development over rivalry.
The governor further charged his appointees to remain close to their constituents while calling on residents to participate actively in the ongoing voter registration exercise.
