From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
The Benue State Government has explained the source of the helicopter hovering around Amoke village of Onyagede in Ohinmimi Local Government Area, LGA, of the state with an assurance on the people that they are safe.
The people of Ohimini LGA had, on Saturday, raised an alarm when they noticed that a particular strange helicopter was hovering over one of their villages in Amoke, dropping strange faces who were dressed in military uniform and called on the state government and security agencies to ascertain their true identity and mission.
Speaking to newsmen on Sunday, Governor Samuel Ortom, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Security Matters, Lt. Col. Paul Hemba, disclosed that the helicopter belongs to a miner who is exploring for coal in the community.
Hemba called on the people of the area to remain calm, saying, the police and the military are keeping surveillance on all areas prone to threats to wade any imminent security situation.
Hemba said, “We just discovered that the helicopter is from a company exploring for coal. The company is responsible for the flights that is causing panic all over the place. That is the information we got.
While he acknowledged the apprehension from the community, the Security Adviser said that state government was not aware of the presence of miners in the area.
“Honestly, government is not aware that miners were in that area. Most of these mining companies, once they get their license from the federal government which has the exclusive rights of issuing this license, they move to the site without the knowledge of the host state government or community.
“This raises a lot of conflicts sometimes, misunderstandings and panic just like we are experiencing now. This is what we are grappling with.
“So for that issue in Onyagede in Ohimini LGA, this is what we just discovered, the community had done the right thing by raising alarm because we have advised our people to report strange faces and suspicious movements.”
Hemba expressed reservations about the attitude of some mining companies saying “once they get mining license from Federal Government, they feel they have all the right. It is until they run into crisis with the community or issues of panic like this before we get to know which is not right at all.
“The community should not panic. There is no threat to their security. The security agencies including the police and the military are keeping surveillance on those areas that are prone to threats of security.
“So for now, there is on threat. They should go about their normal business and activities without any fear, especially the people of Ohimini LGA,” he assured.