The Federal Government has arrested three suspects and sealed an illegal mining site in Gaube, Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in a bid to combat illegal mining and curb revenue loss in the sector.
The operation, executed by the Mining Marshals under the leadership of Assistant Commandant John Onoja Attah, was facilitated by intelligence gathering and surveillance. The Mining Marshals, a specialized unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have been diligently working to identify and dismantle illegal mining operations nationwide.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects lacked the necessary documentation to authorize their mining activities at the site. Attah noted that a legitimate mining company with the required permits was unable to access the site due to the activities of illegal miners. “This is a clear case of illegal miners displacing lawful miners and investors, which will not be tolerated,” Attah stated.
The suspects admitted to operating at the site for over a year, and at the time of their arrest, more than 2,000 tons of lithium were found on the ground, highlighting the scale of the illegal operation. “The quantity of lithium mined since the commencement of operations is unquantifiable due to the lack of records stemming from the illegality of their activities,” Attah added.
The success of the operation, dubbed “OPERATION HAYAKIN KOGO,” was credited to the support of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, and the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi. The seized minerals and equipment have been marked as exhibits for prosecution, and further investigations are underway to uncover the full extent of the illegal activities.
The operation sends a strong message to illegal miners and investors that the Federal Government will no longer tolerate activities that undermine the growth and development of the mining sector.
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