Federal-Government Crackdown On Illegal-Mining, Leads To Arrests And Site Shutdown In Gaube

Federal-Government Crackdown On Illegal-Mining, Leads To Arrests And Site Shutdown In Gaube

The federal government’s crackdown on illegal mining has resulted in the apprehension of three suspects and the shutdown of their illegal mining site in Gaube, Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The arrests were executed by the newly inaugurated Mining Marshals, led by Assistant Commandant John Onoja Attah, under the operation code-named “OPERATION HAYAKIN KOGO.”

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects lacked the necessary documentation to authorize their mining activities at the site. Additionally, it was discovered that a legitimate mining company with proper permits was unable to access the site due to the activities and resistance of the illegal miners.

“This is a clear case of illegal miners displacing lawful miners and investors, which will not be tolerated,” stated the Commander of the Mining Marshals.

The suspects voluntarily confessed to the offense of illegal mining and admitted to operating on the site for over a year. At the time of their arrest, over 2,000 tons of lithium were found on the ground, underscoring the scale of the illegal operation.

Attah noted, “Whereas we met about 2000 tons of lithium on the ground, the quantity of lithium mined since the commencement of operation can’t be quantified as they were not being recorded due to the illegality of their mining operations.”

The seized minerals and equipment on-site have been marked as exhibits for prosecution, and further investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the illegal activities.

The Marshals Commander emphasized that the crackdown on illegal mining is part of a broader effort to combat revenue loss in the country’s mining sector. He attributed the success of the operation to the collaborative efforts of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, and the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi.

He added that the operation aims to cleanse the mining sector of illegal activities and promote a more secure and prosperous industry.

“This operation sends a strong message to illegal miners and investors that the federal government will no longer tolerate illegal activities that undermine the growth and development of the mining sector,” Attah maintained.