The Federal Government has made a significant move against illegal mining in Nasarawa State.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, announced the arrest of three Chinese nationals and two Nigerians suspected of illegal mining activities.
The suspects were caught red-handed at an illegal mining site in Rafin-Gabas, Agwada, within the Kokona Local Government Area.
According to Alake, the company involved started operations in 2021, resulting in substantial revenue losses for the federal government.
The ministry’s mining marshals, established to secure mining sites nationwide, carried out the arrests following credible intelligence.
“The suspects were arrested for mining without lawful authorisation. Some of the minerals being mined include fluorite, zinc, lead, and tin,” Alake said.
“The arrested suspects confessed to having been on illicit activities at the site spanning five cadastral units since December 15, 2021.
“The company defied all lawful advice to regularise their activities and continued syphoning the nation’s resources, causing significant revenue losses to the Federal Government.”
Alake confirmed over 200 illegal miners have been arrested so far, with about 140 undergoing prosecution nationwide.
On September 16, Dele Oyewale, spokesperson to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said the anti-graft agency arrested five Chinese nationals for alleged illegal mining in Ndito-Eka-Iba village, located in Ibiono LGA of Akwa Ibom state.
The EFCC apprehended the suspects during operations carried out in August and September by the special task force on illegal mining.
The house of representatives committee on solid minerals development said Nigeria loses $9 billion yearly due to illegal mining.
