The Chief of Defence Employees (CDS), Basic Christopher Musa, and Inspector Basic of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, have denied allegations that their males have been defending the unlawful miners throughout the nation.
The duo denied the allegation Thursday at a listening to by the Home of Representatives Committee on Strong Minerals, chaired by Jonathan Gaza whereas responding to a question by the committee on whether or not members of the Armed Forces and the Police have been offering safety for unlawful miners as reported.
Musa, who was represented by the Director of Operations Defence Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Nnaemeka Ilo, mentioned they solely present safety for respectable requests made by respectable miners, who function in conflict-prone areas.
“It’s not our main responsibility however a part of our duty as per the structure is that every time the civil authority duties us to do one thing, now we have no obligation than to do this.
“Now to the query that you simply requested if the navy is defending any minefield or unlawful miners. More often than not, you discover out that from stories reaching us from dependable sources that the navy and police offering safety for unlawful miners.
“I wish to state categorically clear that could be a fallacy. It’s not true. If there’s any such allegations, please we might wish to know which of the mines or who introduced the allegations in order that we might take it up from there. If there’s any such allegation, we wish to know who introduced that up, however as it’s, that’s pure lies sir.
“Authentic requests are made for the navy to protect respectable miners that licence have been issued to in conflict-inflicted areas. As soon as we get such requests, what we usually do is we might write to the Ministry of Mines.
“Actually, we direct them to their letter to the Ministry of Mines. So, if the Ministry of Mines requests us due to the character of the setting, due to the battle, we do typically offer protection to these folks licensed by the federal government to hold out mining actions from the Ministry of Mines based mostly on requests from the Ministry,” he mentioned.
Additionally, the IGP, who was represented by Assistant Inspector Basic of Police (AIG) Ademola Hamzat, mentioned no accountable organisation paid by the general public would do something that might be in opposition to the want of the folks.
He mentioned: “The police, sure, we give guards to some people, who we are able to set up are below severe threat particularly in terrorism inflicted areas. However from my very own workplace, there’s nothing to indicate that we shield any unlawful mining website. We don’t try this…”