Nasarawa Commissioner Of Police Calls For Halt On Mining Operations Amid Tensions At Endo Community
Rabiu Omaku
Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, Shetima Muhammad, has issued a stern warning to all mining companies involved in the conflict at the mining site in Endo community of Udege Development Area of Nasarawa State, mandating an immediate halt to operations, and this announcement comes alongside the sealing of Lidel Mining Company.
The Commissioner delivered this warning during an inspection aimed at ensuring compliance with a court order related to the ongoing dispute.
Tensions have notably escalated following Lidel Mining Company’s request to evaluate their operations and vacate the site.
Initially, Lidel claimed they were not extracting any minerals, which exempted them from remitting revenue to the Government. However, investigations revealed that substantial amounts of ore, valued at one billion kilograms, were being extracted daily.
Amid these claims, Governor Abdullahi Sule previously granted Lidel a six-month ultimatum to vacate the site if they were found not to be extracting resources.
Following the additional two-week extension, the company still failed to comply, resulting in the closure of the mining site temporarily.
In light of this ongoing crisis, Lidel Mining Company attempted to encroach on cadastral unit 6 intended for the Diamond New Energy Investment Company.
A suit was filed in the Federal High Court by Lidel, challenging the authority of the State Government regarding the closure.
In response, the State Attorney General’s office also filed a substantial suit, leading to a court ruling by Justice Mobolaji Olubukola Olajuwon of the Federal High Court, Lafia, which mandated that Lidel Mining Company cease all mining operations until the litigation is resolved.
To enforce this ruling, Commissioner Shetima Muhammad led a team to Lidel Mining Company, cautioning all parties involved in the mining site conflict against further operations until a final court verdict is rendered.
“For now, Lidel Mining Company has been sealed in adherence to the court order. We urge both the Diamond New Energy Investment Company and Lidel Mining Company to maintain the status quo,” he stated.
The Commissioner of Police (CP) noted that, despite the mining activities being in an exclusive list of the Federal Government, it does not exempt the State Government from ensuring the safety of its citizens and assessing the environmental impacts of these operations.
This sentiment was further buttressed by the Commissioner of Security, Nasarawa state, Usman Babba, who stated that their visit was mandated by the State Government to ensure compliance with the court order to seal the Lidel Mining Company.
He added that, based on confidential information, Lidel Mining Company violated this court order and continues to operate.
On her part, the Commissioner for the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in Nasarawa State, Princess Dr. Margaret Elayo, has urged the Lidel Mining Company to halt all litigation and return to dialogue with the State Government in order to resolve the dispute amicably.
