The House of Representatives has sounded the alarm over the increasing presence of both local and foreign illegal miners in Benue State, raising significant security concerns.
Highlighting the potential consequences, the Green Chamber expressed fears that if this trend is not addressed promptly, Benue may become the next epicenter of banditry, similar to Zamfara State, where illegal gold mining contributed to the escalating insecurity.
Consequently, the House has called on the National Security Adviser and security agencies to conduct a comprehensive review of the security situation in the Middle Belt and the Nigerian-Cameroonian border areas in Benue.
Furthermore, the lawmakers have urged the security agencies to take immediate and proactive measures to prevent further deterioration of peace and security in the Middle Belt region.
This resolution follows the adoption of a motion during Tuesday’s plenary, which addressed the urgent need for intervention in the Nigeria-Cameroon refugee crisis, as well as banditry and environmental pollution resulting from gold mining in Kwande Local Government of Benue State.
The motion, moved by Terseer Ugbor, highlighted that Kwande LGA shares borders with Cameroon to the north, Cross River to the east, and Taraba to the west.
Ugbor pointed out that Cameroonian refugees initially settled in Menev Ward before relocating to Ikyogen Cattle Ranch, where they have resided for over five years. Their population now exceeds 12,000 as they continue to grow and integrate into Nigerian society.
The lawmaker lamented that 16 people have been killed along the Ugbema-Jato Aka road in recent days due to internal conflicts between neighboring communities.
According to Ugbor, the crisis between the Cameroonian military and separatist Ambazonian fighters has spilled over into Kwande LGA, leading to a refugee crisis along the Nigeria-Cameroon border.
He further highlighted the violent attacks, labeled as farmers-herders clashes, that have plagued the local government for the past decade. These attacks have resulted in numerous deaths, injuries, and displacement of indigenes, particularly in Turan and Ikyurav-ya districts, leaving them without farmlands and means of sustenance.
Ugbor revealed that many of these refugees have obtained Nigerian Identity Number (NIN) ID cards, essentially making them de facto Nigerians, despite no formal proclamation to that effect.
Moreover, they are now seeking voting rights and participation in elections.
He also stressed that recent years have seen a rise in insecurity due to the discovery of gold, lithium, and other precious minerals in the area. The influx of local and foreign illegal miners has resulted in daily security unrest, environmental pollution, and potentially a food crisis, as young men and women abandon their farmlands for mining sites.
Ugbor cautioned that failure to address this issue promptly could transform Benue into the next banditry hotspot, akin to Zamfara State’s experiences triggered by illicit gold mining.
