The Mining Marshals from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have arrested three Chinese and two Nigerian nationals in Nasarawa State.
The suspects were caught mining without lawful authorization at a site located in Rafin-Gabas, Agwada Area Council, Kokona LGA.
According to the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori, the Mining Marshals acted on credible intelligence to swoop in on the illegal mining site last week.
The arrested suspects confessed to having been engaged in illicit activities since December 15, 2021, spanning five cadastral units. They had defied advice to regularize their operations, causing significant revenue losses to the federal government.
The minerals being mined illegally included Fluorite, Zinc, Lead, and Tin. This arrest brings the total number of arrests made by the Mining Marshals to over 200, with about 140 cases currently undergoing prosecution across the country.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, conceptualized the 2,570-strong Mining Marshals, an elite squad of specially trained officers drafted from the NSCDC. The federal government remains committed to sanitizing the mining sector, ensuring the environment is secure and safe for genuine investors.
This is not the first time illegal mining operations have been busted in Nasarawa State.
In January 2022, the Nigeria Police arrested three Chinese and 18 others over illegal mining in the same state.
The ongoing efforts of the Mining Marshals demonstrate the government’s resolve to tackle the issue head-on.
