Illegal Mining: ‘Don’t Spare Anybody, Even My Son,’ Bala Mohammed Tells Army

From Paul Orude Bauchi

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has directed the Nigerian Army to spare no one in its crackdown on illegal mining and banditry, declaring that even his own son should be dealt with decisively if found involved in criminal activities.

The governor made the declaration on Tuesday while receiving the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, Major General Maxwell Dangana, during a courtesy visit at the Government House, Bauchi.

Expressing concern over the growing nexus between banditry and illegal mining, Mohammed said criminal elements were exploiting border communities to launch attacks across state lines, displacing residents, terrorising farmers and threatening the state’s food security and economic prosperity.

“We must face the stark reality confronting our communities. Criminal elements, bandits and illegal miners often use the borders and the axis to perpetrate evil across state lines. Innocent citizens are being ripped from their homes, while our farmlands are being terrorised. This is a direct threat to our food security and economic survival,” he said.

The governor called for stronger interstate collaboration among the military, state governments, local government administrations and traditional institutions to intensify operations along vulnerable border corridors.

He said coordinated security operations and intelligence sharing would help dismantle bandit networks and illegal mining cartels that have continued to fuel insecurity in rural communities.

Mohammed identified Gwana in Alkaleri Local Government Area as one of the communities badly affected by illegal mining, alleging that some influential stakeholders were complicit because of the huge financial benefits derived from the illicit trade.

“We are battling this menace in Gwana, Alkaleri Local Government Area. Even some of our own stakeholders are part of the illegal mining because of the huge economic advantages. I want you to intensify your intelligence. Don’t spare anybody. Even if my son is involved in illegal mining, deal with him decisively,” the governor declared.

He urged the Army to intensify intelligence gathering, increase rural patrols and launch proactive offensives against criminal hideouts, assuring the military of the state government’s continued logistical support.

“We cannot afford to be inactive. The bandits are changing their tactics and we must outsmart them. I urge the 3 Division to deploy more actionable intelligence, increase rural patrols and launch decisive proactive strikes on criminal hideouts. We will help you with the little we have in terms of transportation and logistics,” he said.

Mohammed said the people of Bauchi State were yearning for lasting peace, stressing that security remained the cornerstone of his administration’s development agenda.

“The people of Bauchi State are crying out for peace and we must answer them with overwhelming force and unyielding results. For us in Bauchi State, security is the foundation of all our development plans,” he said.

The governor disclosed that the state’s recent investment summit attracted investment commitments worth about $5.7 billion, particularly in agriculture, agribusiness, mining and infrastructure, attributing the investors’ confidence to improvements in the state’s security environment.

“That is a show of confidence in us and belief in our security. What is driving people away is insecurity. We must attract huge capital and develop our economy. We cannot continue to depend on the Federal Government. We have to look inward and harness our strengths, weaknesses and natural endowments,” he said.

According to Mohammed, Bauchi possesses enormous agricultural potential, but insecurity continues to prevent farmers from cultivating their land.

“We have everything in Bauchi, even cassava. But we cannot harvest if our people cannot safely go to their farms. We must defeat the criminals so our children can go to school and our farmers can return to their farms. For us as a state, security is the foundation of everything,” he added.

Earlier, Major General Dangana said he was in Bauchi as part of his maiden operational tour of formations and units under his command following his assumption of office.

He said he assumed command of the 3 Division Nigerian Army and Operation Enduring Peace two weeks ago and had since embarked on an operational tour of nine formations and units under his command to assess the security situation, identify operational requirements and challenges, and provide strategic direction.

The GOC said the Army was reviewing its operational strategies to strengthen security and better protect lives and property across the division’s area of responsibility.

He commended the Bauchi State Government for its continued support to the military and pledged the commitment of the Nigerian Army to strengthening operations against banditry and other forms of criminality across the state.