The Chairman of the Taraba State Special Taskforce on Environmental Protection, Public Safety, and Prohibition of Deforestation, General (Rtd) Jeremiah Aliyu Faransa, has urged security agencies in the state to collaborate in addressing land degradation caused by illegal mining activities.
Speaking through his deputy, on Friday, Major (Rtd) Mafindi Ishaq Soje, Faransa stressed the importance of collective efforts to curb the exploitation of the state’s natural resources.
He made the call during his visits to the Army, Police, Immigration, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in their offices spread in Jalingo, the state capital.
He condemned the activities of unscrupulous individuals allegedly using some security personnel to undermine government directives suspending mining operations.
According to him, decisive action is needed to address these practices, which he described as threats to environmental safety and public welfare.
“All hands must be on deck to ensure these unhealthy behaviours are nipped in the bud,” the retired General emphasized.
Responding, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations in the state, U.S. Didango, Deputy Commandant of the NSCDC, B.P. Tele, the State Comptroller of Immigration, Lawan Abdulmumin, and Lieutenant Colonel F.N. Alitumo, representing the 6 Brigade Commander, pledged their support for the taskforce’s mission.
They commended the task force for its dedication to combating environmental degradation and assured that security agencies would work together as a united front to achieve the set objectives in the best interest of Taraba State.
Taskforce calls for security agencies’ synergy to combat land degradation in Taraba
