The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Plateau State Command, has appealed to traditional rulers across the state to actively support the agency’s efforts in curbing illegal mining and tackling emerging security threats in their communities.

The State Commandant of the NSCDC, Commandant Ishaku Musa, made this call during in an interview with journalists in Jos, as part of the command’s renewed drive to deepen community intelligence and foster collaborative security frameworks at the grassroots level.

Commandant Musa emphasised the growing threat posed by illegal mining activities in several parts of Plateau State, particularly in local government areas such as Wase, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, and Riyom. He noted that the rising incidence of unregulated mining has contributed not only to economic sabotage but also to environmental degradation and community-level insecurity.

“We cannot win the battle against illegal mining and other crimes without the active involvement of our traditional institutions,” he stated. “Traditional rulers are the closest to the people. You know your terrain, you understand the dynamics of your communities, and you hold the trust of your people. We are here to build a partnership with you, not just to enforce the law but to preserve the peace.”

The Commandant further disclosed that the NSCDC has intensified surveillance and deployed specially trained personnel, including the Mining Marshals, to known flashpoints. However, he stressed that the success of any security operation rests heavily on accurate and timely intelligence, which traditional rulers are best positioned to provide.

He also raised concerns over the increasing use of children and teenagers in illegal mining sites, describing the trend as a violation of Nigeria’s child protection laws and a long-term threat to the educational and health outcomes of the state’s youth. “We cannot allow criminal profiteers to mortgage the future of our children,” Musa said, urging traditional rulers to speak out against the exploitation of minors in mining operations.