In its ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining and revenue loss in the mining sector, the Federal Government has arrested three suspects and sealed an illegal mining site at Gaube, Kuje area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The operation, carried out by the Mining Marshals led by Assistant Commandant John Onoja Attah, was made possible through meticulous intelligence gathering and surveillance. The Mining Marshals, a specialized unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have been working tirelessly to identify and dismantle illegal mining operations across the country.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects lacked any documentation authorizing their mining activities on the site.
The suspects, who voluntarily confessed to the offense of illegal mining, admitted to having been operating on the site for over a year.
At the time of their arrest, over 2,000 tons of lithium was on the ground, highlighting the scale of the illegal operation.
The seized minerals and equipment on site have been marked as exhibits for prosecution, and further investigations are ongoing to uncover the extent of the illegal activities.
The Commander of the Mining Marshals emphasized that this crackdown is part of a broader effort to combat revenue loss in the mining sector of Nigeria.
The success of this operation is attributed to the collaborative efforts of the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, and the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Ahmed Abubakar Audi.
The operation, code-named “OPERATION HAYAKIN KOGO,” aims to rid the mining sector of illegal activities and promote a more secure and prosperous industry.
Editor : Ena Agbanoma
