Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Lieutenant-General Christopher Musa and the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbotekun have denied allegation that they offer protection to high profile Nigerians involved in illegal mining.
It would be recalled that the military had last week said some high profile and well placed Nigerians are also involved in illegal mining.
The service chiefs refuted the allegation while responding to a question by chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals that some members of the armed forces and the police are providing security for illegal miners based on reliable reports.
The CDS, who was represented by the Director of Operations, Defence Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Nnaemeka Ilo, said they only provide protection for legitimate requests made by legitimate miners who operate in conflict-inflicted areas.
He explained that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are ready to give the necessary support when needed to stop all forms of illegal mining.
“It is not our primary duty but part of our responsibility as per the constitution is that whenever the civil authority task us to do something, we have no obligation than to do so.
“So the armed forces is saying that we are ready to support all the agencies involved in stopping illegal mining, including the civil defence, police and the military and so on,” Ilo said.
Chairman of the committee, Jonathan Gaza had earlier pledged his committee’s readiness to ensure that their mandates are fulfilled.
Earlier, the committee had requested that the representative of the director-general of DSS should provide his committee with an official letter seeking for permission to enable her speak at the meeting.
To ensure strict deliberations on key security areas of the subject matter between the committee and the various security agencies present at the hearing, the committee went into executive session.
