An illegal mining site at Tukashara Wasa, Apo, in Abuja Municipal Area Council was on October 30 raided by the Presidential Guards Brigade.
No fewer than 60 suspected illegal miners were apprehended at the site, said Defence spokesman Musa Danmadami on Thursday.
Mr Danmadami, an army major-general, said the troops also confiscated two trailers loaded with illegally mined items.
He gave the update during the bi-weekly media briefing by the directorate of Defence Media Operations at the Defence headquarters in Abuja.
Nigeria’s north, especially Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and Zamfara states, are particularly hard hit by the blight of illegal mining.
An estimated 80% of mining in these areas is conducted illegally on an artisanal basis, involving over two million people who depend on it for survival.
