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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Edo miners, NSCDC disagree over harassment, extortion claim

From The Punch · (4m ago) English Critical tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Edo State accuses the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) of harassment and extortion.
  • MAN claims NSCDC operatives, particularly special marshals, are arbitrarily enforcing royalty payments and financially exploiting members.
  • The NSCDC denies the allegations, suggesting impersonation by misguided elements and urging miners to provide evidence.

The Punch reports on a significant dispute between the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Edo State and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) over alleged harassment and extortion.

The deployment of special marshals to check trucks conveying solid minerals has resulted in undue harassment and extortion of our members.

— Alhaji Fatai JimohThe Acting Chairman of MAN in Edo State accused the NSCDC of financial exploitation.

According to Alhaji Fatai Jimoh, Acting Chairman of MAN in Edo State, members are facing undue intimidation and financial exploitation. The core of the complaint lies in the NSCDC's alleged arbitrary enforcement of royalty payments, particularly concerning pulverised mineral materials like dolomite. The deployment of special marshals to monitor trucks transporting solid minerals has, in MAN's view, created unrest and imposed unjustified financial burdens on miners, hindering their operations.

Some misguided elements may impersonate NSCDC personnel, but if miners have credible evidence, they should come forward.

— Efosa OgbeborThe NSCDC spokesman denied the allegations and asked for proof.

The NSCDC, through its Edo State spokesman Efosa Ogbebor, has vehemently denied these accusations. The corps suggests that any such incidents might involve individuals impersonating NSCDC personnel. They have challenged the miners to come forward with credible evidence of extortion, stating that no formal complaints have been lodged with the corps. This denial highlights a potential breakdown in communication or a deliberate attempt to discredit the NSCDC's legitimate functions.

The contentious issue of royalty payment on pulverised dolomite was decisively addressed by the state executives, and the matter is currently receiving due attention from the minister.

— Alhaji Fatai JimohJimoh insisted that the dispute over dolomite royalty payments had been escalated to the federal level.

Adding complexity to the issue, MAN points to a specific dispute over royalty payments for pulverised dolomite, a matter that has been escalated to the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development. The association is also working to clarify the classification of minerals like calcite, which they believe are being misidentified as marble, impacting royalty assessments. The Edo State Ministry of Mining, represented by Permanent Secretary Omoruyi Martina, has called for stronger collaboration, emphasizing its regulatory role in developing the mining sector within the state. This situation underscores the ongoing challenges in regulating Nigeria's mining sector, balancing revenue collection with the operational needs of miners and ensuring accountability among security agencies.

We are a regulatory ministry, and we should be working with the association to develop mining in Edo.

— Omoruyi MartinaThe Permanent Secretary of the Edo State Ministry of Mining called for collaboration.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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