The chief of defence staff, Christopher Musa, and the inspector general of police, Kayode Egbetokun, say military and police operatives are stationed at mines to provide cover security for investors in Nigeria.

The duo said this at a public hearing convened by the House of Representatives committee on mineral resources. The hearing, conducted on Thursday in Abuja, was coordinated by Jonathan Gaza, committee chairman.

The security chiefs were responding to a query by the committee that the members of the armed forces and the police were providing security for illegal miners.

The army chief said soldiers only protect legitimate requests made by legitimate miners operating in conflict areas and that the armed forces of Nigeria were ready to give all the necessary support needed to stop illegal mining.

“It is not our primary duty, but part of our responsibility is that whenever the civil authority asks us to do something, we have to do that,” said Mr Musa. “So, for the armed forces to be here, it shows we are ready to support the agencies involved in stopping illegal mining, including the civil defence, police and the ministry.”

He added, “Legitimate requests are made for the military to give protection to legitimate miners that licences have been issued to, in conflict-inflicted areas. Once we get such requests, what we normally do is to write to the Ministry of Mines.”

The IGP said no responsible organisation paid by the public would do anything against the people’s wishes. He said the police often provide security to some individuals established to be under serious threat, especially in crisis areas.

“But, from my own office, there is nothing to show that we protect any illegal mining site,” he said. 

(NAN)