In a significant move to clean up Nigeria’s mining sector, the Federal Government has brought suspected illegal miners to court.
The arrests stem from a recent operation led by the Mining Marshals, aimed at tackling unlawful mining activities across the country.
Operation “Hayakin Kogo” was conducted in the Ikah Community of Ankpa LGA, Kogi State, where authorities apprehended two Chinese nationals and a Nigerian involved in unauthorized mining operations. These individuals are now facing charges for violating existing mining regulations.
Simultaneously, another raid was carried out in Ogunlepa, Oluwa Forest Reserve, Odigbo LGA of Ondo State. The Mining Marshals arrested four suspects caught mining gold without the necessary licenses in a Government Reserved Area. During interrogation, the suspects admitted to operating illegally.
The accused from both Kogi and Ondo states have been charged in the Federal High Court in Abuja.
This operation underscores the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to address illegal mining activities, spearheaded by the Mining Marshals—a 2,570-member unit drawn from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). This initiative, part of the 7-point agenda of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, aims to reform and sanitize the mining sector.
Minister Dele Alake has reiterated the government’s commitment to combating illegal mining through enhanced technology and satellite monitoring of mining sites nationwide.