By DOMINIC AKPENSUEN, Jalingo –
The Chairman Taskforce Committee against Illegal Miming and prohibition of deforestation in Taraba State, Brig. Gen. Jeremiah Faransa (Rtd), has called on religious leaders to redouble their efforts in ensuring illegal mining activities in Taraba State has being squashed.
Gen. Faransa made the appealed at the Southern Conference of United Methodist Church Annual Christian Revival 2024 and ordination, held at Appawa, Lau Local Government, of Taraba State.
Faransa said the level of devastation and destruction caused by mining across the 16 Local Governments in Taraba State is worrisome, according to him, those degraded lands damage by mining activities cannot be use for farming.
He stressed that, dragging the campaign against illegal mining activities to religious leaders has become necessary.
He frowned at the mining companies, who denied the citizens from their right including corporate social responsibility to assist the communities by drilling boreholes, building schools and primary health care centers.
On his part, the Director of Connectional Ministries, Rev. Dr. Philip Dopah said illegal mining has a lot of implications and hazards on environment, such as earthquake and environmental degradation.
Dopah, who delivered his ordination sermon on the topic, “Call to do the work of God” reiterated that God servants are call to be peace makers and serve the oppressed, reading from the Holy Bible in the book of Genesis 12:1.
Rev. Dopah said some pastors are tribalistic, working for their personal gain, instead of serving God, and whenever God calls his people they responded.
In the same vein, an ordained elder, Rev. Lateef Bitrus, from Shunkani district, expressed his profound appreciation for the calling he received from God to serve his people.
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