Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River state has claimed that solid mineral deposit in Nigeria is attracting terrorists to the country.
Appearing on Channels Television on Thursday April 28, Ayade stated that Nigeria has so many essential elements and metals of economic interests which has now become a challenge.
He also claimed that the collapse of Afghanistan means that ISWAP sees West Africa as their own God-given province, and their agenda is to wipe out all residents of the sub-region as they see Muslims and Christians of this area as infidels.
Ayade said;
“Security has a very huge international dimensions.
“Nigeria has so many essential elements and metals of economic interests. So, the solid minerals deposit has become a source of challenge to the nation.
“Nigeria has a large deposit of tantalite, they have led, they have zink, they have gold, uranium, the deposits are so huge. Most times in Africa when you have such a deposit, it’s just an invitation for crisis because they [foreign actors] will keep you unsettled so that they can do the exploration.
“The collapse of Afghanistan means that ISWAP sees West Africa as their own God-given province.
“So, they have the policy to occupy West Africa and with the collapse of Afghanistan, they now have access to power, they have a sovereign nation called their own, they deal on drugs, sell those drugs to raise funds, buy arms and prosecute a huge war.”
Ayade who reiterated that President Muhammadu Buhari has done well to keep Nigeria together despite these attacks, maintained that the security challenges in Nigeria are not as a result of leadership failure but a global issue with an international dimension with the intention of keeping Nigeria unstable.
He added;
“ISWAP has so much capacity today – Boko Haram linked to Al-Qaeda, ISWAP linked to ISIS are all targeting Nigeria, her natural resources.
“You need some international strategic and security connections to address the issue. This is far beyond the President and the capacity of the President of Nigeria”
Ayade also said Nigeria must cry out to the international community and seek sophisticated digital and no-contact technology to address the security challenges in the country.
