Nigerian Government has said seven suspected illegal miners recently arrested in Kogi and Ondo states during an operation led by the Mining Marshals has been charged to court as part of ongoing efforts to sanitise the mining sector.
Segun Tomori, the Special Assistant (Media) to Dele Alake, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development announced this in a statement on Monday.
According to the statement, operation three of the suspects – two Chinese nationals and a Nigerian were arrested by the Mining Marshalls for violation of existing mining regulations in an operation code-named “Operation Hayakin Kogo,” in Ikah Community of Ankpa LGA, Kogi State
The statement indicated that the Mining Marshals also raided an illegal gold mining site in the Ogunlepa, Oluwa Forest Reserve, Odigbo LGA of Ondo State, where four suspects were arrested.
“These individuals, caught in the act of illegally mining gold in a Government Reserved Area, confessed during interrogation that they lacked the necessary licenses or authorisation to carry out their operations”
“The suspects from both Kogi and Ondo states have since been charged to the Federal High Court, Abuja,” the statement indicated.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake has some weeks ago launched 2,570-strong Mining Marshals, specially trained and drawn from the ranks of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as part of his 7-point agenda, hinged on sanitising and reforming the mining sector.
The Minister reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment to eliminating illegal mining in the country by bolstering the operations of the Mining Marshals with the infusion of technology and imminent satellite monitoring of mining sites.
He urged those still involved in illegal activities in the mining sector to turn a new leaf and comply with the relevant sections of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NNMA) to regularise their operations, stressing that the resolve of the Federal Government to wielding the big stick is unflinching.
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