The Chairman of the Taraba State Special Taskforce Committee on Environmental Protection, Public Safety and Prohibition of Deforestation, retired General Jeremiah A. Faransa, has revealed that nearly half of the mining companies operating in the state are in violation of regulations.

Faransa stated that many of the companies’ licenses have expired, while others have failed to keep up with required fee payments.

Making the revelations on Wednesday in Jalingo, while briefing journalists on the activities of the taskforce, he also decried the extensive environmental damage linked to illegal mining, noting that the taskforce has conducted numerous arrests to curb the illicit activities.

He explained that among those detained are foreign nationals from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and China. The individuals, according to him, were been apprehended for illegal mining practices.

“The Special Taskforce has made several arrests, including foreigners from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and China. We will leave no stone unturned until these illegal operations are dismantled in the state,” Faransa said.

Though he did not provide an exact figure of those arrested, he confirmed that the detainees had been handed over to the mobile taskforce court for prosecution.

Faransa expressed disappointment that illegal miners have left extensive damage without any attempts to restore the land, adding that the taskforce identified extensive destruction.

He called on the state government to immediately initiate a tree-planting campaign to prevent worsening desert encroachment.

“If that is not done, in the next five years, the state will face severe desertification,” he stated.