Minister Urged Rangers to Intensify Crackdown on Poachers, Illegal Miners in Adamawa, Taraba
By Chuwang Dungs, Jalingo
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, has urged rangers operating within the Gashaka Gumti National Park in Serti of Taraba State, to intensify efforts to crackdown poachers and illegal miners within the park.
The minister stated this while commissioning a newly constructed rangers outpost, located in the northern sector of the park in Tungo Local Government Area of Adamawa state.
While admitting that Nigeria has faced unprecedented challenges in protecting its rich biodiversity, Mr Lawal noted that the new outpost will play a crucial role in enhancing conservation efforts and responding swiftly to threats within the park.
The challenges, as highlighted by him, includes poaching, habitat destruction, climate change, and more recently, general insecurity as a result of insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping, illegal mining among others.
He commended African Nature Investors (ANI), for collaborating with the National Park Service (NPS) in constructing the outpost that will house over fifty rangers.
“The collaboration between NPS and ANI in managing these two national parks is apt and will go a long way in mitigating these challenges and protecting our wildlife, biodiversity, and ecosystem,” the minister said.
Lawal, who was represented by the Conservator General of Parks, Ibrahim Goni, said these efforts have greatly complemented the federal government’s initiatives in safeguarding our national treasures.
“This partnership, therefore, signifies a robust alliance shaped by a shared vision to ensure that our parks are not only protected but also serve as sanctuaries for wildlife, ecotourism, and sources of livelihoods for local communities,” he said.
The Executive Director of Gashaka Gumti National Park, Tunde Morakinyo, identified illegal mining as a major issue facing the park, he however expressed optimism that the new outpost will enhance ranger efforts to tackle illegal mining activities within the protected areas.
Morakinyo, while calling on the federal government to take immediate action to shut down illegal mining operations in the region, observed that illegal mining is the reason for the high increase in criminal activities in the area.
He also called for a collaborative effort to address the challenge, stressing that combating these activities is now more critical than ever.
Last week 22 miners died as a result of the collapse of a mining pit at an illegal mining site located within the area.
