In a bid to rid the mining sector of illegal operators, a joint operation by the Mining Marshals, a security outfit under the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has led to the arrest of seven suspects in Ogun State.
According to officials, the suspects were apprehended for preventing authorized miners from accessing a site in the state for over 16 years. The operation, led by Commander ACC Attah John Onoja, was a result of weeks of intelligence gathering and planning.
The site, which covers four cadastral units, had been under illegal occupation by the suspects, who had allegedly been operating without licenses. The authorities have given the site workers five days to vacate the area to allow for the recovery of the site and its subsequent use for lawful mining activities.
This is not the first time the Mining Marshals have taken action against illegal miners. In a similar operation in Abia State, eight Chinese nationals and a Nigerian were arrested and charged at the federal high court in Abuja. The Chinese nationals are currently being held at Kuje prisons.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has vowed to continue fighting illegal mining and bringing culprits to justice. The ministry is committed to ensuring that only licensed miners are allowed to operate in the sector.
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