Ortom advised those who have mining licenses to register with the state Ministry of Land, Survey and Solid Minerals.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has suspended mining in the state over alleged security threats that the actions of miners pose.
According to Ortom, the suspension will also affect miners with licence.
The governor gave the order on Thursday at a meeting held with Kwande stakeholders at the new banquet hall, Government House, Makurdi.
He said that the state government would set up committees at state, local government and ward levels to regulate the activities of the miners.
“Recent events in the Kwande Local Government area is posing danger and threat to peace in council and the state in general and this is as a result of mining activities in the area.
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“We know that there are some miners with licenses from the federal government because it is the responsibility of federal government to grant licenses.
“We know that some of the miners don’t have licenses, we have foreigners and indigenous ones among them.
“As a result of the danger the activities of the miners pose in the state, we hereby suspend all mining activities in the state including those with licenses,” the governor said.
Ortom advised those who have mining licenses to register with the state Ministry of Land, Survey and Solid Minerals so that profiling can be run on them.
